Nov. 29, 2006

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BELLINGHAM, Wash. -

UPDATE: Following an 11-day layoff, the Western Washington University women's basketball team entertains Northwest University on Haggen Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium.

It is the last home game until Jan. 6 for the 3-1 Vikings, who have won three straight after a season-opening loss. They were ranked No.15 nationally in the latest USA Today/ESPN/NCAA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll.

Last week, Western took two victories at its WWU Lynda Goodrich Classic, defeating NCAA III preseason No.16 Pacific Lutheran University, 68-61, on Friday and overcame a 19-point second-half deficit to edge previously unbeaten Northwest Missouri State University, 81-74 in overtime. That increased the Vikings regular-season home court winning streak to 20. They are 19-1 overall in Goodrich Classic contests.

Most Valuable Player honors went to Western reserve sophomore guard MacKenzie Flynn, who scored 18 of her 20 points after halftime in the dramatic comeback. Two other Vikings receiving all-tourney recognition were junior forward Krystal Robinson and senior guard Mollie Stelmack.

Stelmack leads the team in scoring with an 18.0 points per game average and is tied for top honors in assists (3.0). She also paces the squad in 3-point shooting at 40.9 percent (9-of-22), and is hitting 81.0 percent (17-of-21) at the free throw line.

Forward Liz McCarrell, who scored 19 points in the win over Pacific Lutheran, is averaging 12.8 points and 6.3 rebounds, grabbing a team-best 17 offensive boards.

Also averaging double-figure points for the Vikings are sophomore center Claire Pallansch at 10.3, and junior forward Krystal Robinson and Flynn, both at 10.0. Pallansch, who had 25 points in the two tourney triumphs, tops the team in rebounds with an 8.5 average, and Robinson is averaging 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks.

After the Northwest game, Western takes to the road for six games, before returning home to play Seattle University. The Vikings compete in the CCAA/GNAC Challenge Classic on Dec. 8-9, meeting Cal State Stanislaus and host Sonoma State. They meet Cal Poly Pomona and UC San Diego in the Great Western Shootout on Dec. 19-20 and travel to Dixie State UT on Dec. 21.

Western, the defending Great Northwest Athletic Conference champion and the preseason favorite in the coaches poll, opens league play Jan. 4 at Saint Martin's.

UPCOMING GAMES:

Dec. 5 - NORTHWEST UNIVERSITY, 7 p.m. (BELLINGHAM)
Dec. 8 (Fri.) - CCAA/GNAC Challenge Classic (Rohnert Park, CA)
	Game 1 WESTERN vs. Cal State Stanislaus, 3:30 p.m.
	Game 2 Seattle Pacific University vs. Sonoma State University, 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 9 (Sat.) - CCAA/GNAC Challenge Classic (Rohnert Park, CA)
	Game 3 - Seattle Pacific vs. Chico State, 3:30 p.m.
	Game 4 - WESTERN vs. Sonoma State, 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 19 (Tue.) - WWU GREAT WESTERN SHOOTOUT (Las Vegas, NV)
	Game 1 - Seattle Pacific vs. UC San Diego, 11 a.m.
	Game 2 - WESTERN vs. Cal Poly Pomona#, 1 p.m.
Dec. 20 (Wed,) - WWU GREAT WESTERN SHOOTOUT (Las Vegas, NV)
	Game 3 - Seattle Pacific vs. Cal Poly Pomona, 11 a.m.
	Game 4 - WESTERN vs. UC San Diego#, 1 p.m.
Dec. 21 (Thu.) at Dixie State College (St. George, UT)

Home games (all caps) on Haggen Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium
#broadcast on KBAI Radio (930 AM) and via the internet at wwuvikings.com
*Great Northwest Athletic Conference contest

THREE-DOT NOTES: Sophomore forward Willow Cabe will miss at least six weeks with a knee injury suffered in the Vikings' season opener against Mesa State CO ... Stelmack has scored double figures in all four games this year ... Western has won 20 straight regular-season home games ... The Vikings are 19-1 at the WWU/Lynda Goodrich tourney, their only loss coming in the final game of the 2002 classic ... Western, the defending GNAC champion and the preseason favorite, has won its last 19 GNAC contests ... The season-opening loss to Mesa State CO was just the second in the last 12 years for the Vikings ... Western graduated four starters from last year's 27-2 squad that won the GNAC championship with a perfect 18-0 record and reached the semifinals of the NCAA Division II West Regional ... The Vikings have made nine straight national appearances and are working on a similar string of 20-win seasons.

HOME COURT DOMINANCE: The Vikings are 362-59 (86.0 percent) in this their 35th year at Carver Gym. Western has reached double-digit victories at home in each of the last nine seasons. Western was 14-1 in 2005-06, 12-1 in 2004-05, 11-2 in 2003-04, 12-2 in 2002-03, 13-1 in 2001-02, 13-1 in 2000-01, 12-0 in 1999-2000, 13-2 in 1998-99 and 10-4 in 1997-98.

COACH DOLFO: Carmen Dolfo is in her 16th year as head coach at Western. She has a 332-113 (74.6 percent) record. Entering this season, Dolfo ranked 12th among active NCAA II coaches in winning percentage and 29th in victories. Dolfo's teams have reached post-season play 15 times and have won 20 or more games 13 times. She was named GNAC Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2006, Northwest small college Coach of the Year in 2000 and Pacific Northwest Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1995 and 1996. Dolfo was the top Viking assistant for four seasons (95-28, 77.2) and earned All-America honors as a player at Western.

THE TRADITION CONTINUES: With 764 victories in its 36-year history, Western is one of just four NCAA Division II schools that has reached that milestone and 15 nationally in all NCAA divisions ... The Vikings have made 27 straight post-season appearances and 33 overall, reaching nationals 16 times, including one semifinal and three quarterfinal finishes ... They also have had 27 20-win seasons and are working on a string of nine straight ... Western has had 20 winning streaks of 10 or more games with its longest being 20, and its longest losing streak is just four games ... Former Western coach Lynda Goodrich, now the Vikings' director of athletics, is a member of the NAIA National Hall of Fame. She coached Western for 19 seasons, winning more than 400 games (411-124, 76.7 percent). Another Viking NAIA Hall of Famer is forward Jo Metzger (1977-81), who earned first-team All-American honors in 1980 and 1981 ... Western has had 13 first, second or third-team All-Americans.

RADIO BROADCASTS: Selected Western games are being broadcast this season on KBAI Radio (930 AM) with Doug Lange handling the play-by-play, and either Mark Scholten, Jason Stiles or Ervin Kuehbler providing the color commentary. They also can be heard on the internet at www.wwuvikings.com.

ON THE WEB: For up-to-date statistics, box scores of every game, records, stories, etc., see the Western Athletic web page at www.wwuvikings.com. Up-to-date league standings and statistics can be found on the Great Northwest Athletic Conference web page at www.gnacsports.com.

PROBABLE WESTERN STARTERS & TOP RESERVES:

G Mollie Stelmack,5-11,*Sr.,New Westminster.,BC/FranklinPierceNH
G India Soo, 5-6, So.-TR, Kamuela, HI/Kamehameha/Idaho State
G Liz McCarrell, 5-11, **Jr., Ferndale, WA/Ferndale
F Krystal Robinson, 6-2, **Jr., Kent, WA/Kentridge
C Claire Pallansch, 6-1, *So., Redmond, WA/Redmond/Oregon State

G MacKenzie Flynn, 5-5, So.-TR, Redmond, WA/Redmond/Idaho
C Sarah Schramm, 6-0, So., Chelan, WA
G Elyse Hartman**, 5-8, Jr., Eagle River, AK/Chugiak
*letters

OPPONENT SKETCHES:

NORTHWEST UNIVERSITY: The NAIA Division II Eagles (4-4, Dec. 1 at Warner Pacific, Dec. 2 at Cascade College) have three starters back from last year's 11-20 team for coach Lori Napier (4th year, 46-58; 5th overall, 53-75). They are 5-10 senior guard Kim Sandberg (11.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg), 5-10 sophomore center Sam McCracken (8.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and 6-1 sophomore forward Brittany Bowsher (16.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg). Three other top returnees are 5-8 senior forward Rebekah Johnson (13.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg), 5-5 sophomore guard Rachel Travis (9.0 ppg) and 5-6 senior guard Jasmine Yeldon (7.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.0 apg). A major graduation loss was first-team all-Cascade Collegiate Conference center Emilee Eisinger (17.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg). Western has won all five previous meetings.

CAL STATE STANISLAUS: The Warriors (0-1, Dec. 1 at Cal State Dominguez, and Dec. 2 at UC San Diego), coached Sharon Turner-Dean (3rd year, 26-41), are led by 5-10 junior guard Shristy Kumar (13.0 ppg, 6.0 apg), a returning starter, and 5-11 sophomore forward Lysandra Williams (12.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg). Series is tied at 1-1.

SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY: The Seawolves (0-2, Dec. 1 at Cal Poly Pomona, Dec. 2 at Cal State San Bernardino, host Seattle Pacific on Dec. 8) are led by 5-10 junior guard Danae Wellander (19.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 5.0 apg), a transfer from NCAA Division I University of San Francisco). Another top newcomer for coach Mark Rigby (10th year, 150-100) is 6-0 freshman center Lindsey Dreher. Some top returnees from last year's 10-17 squad are 5-7 junior guard Chelsey Armacost (9.0 ppg), 6-1 sophomore center Heidi Mertle (6.5 ppg), 5-11 senior forward Nichola Hester (5.5 ppg) and 5-9 sophomore guard Lauren Redfield. Western has won all previous nine series meetings.

CAL POLY POMONA: The Broncos (1-1, Dec. 1 host Sonoma State, Dec. 2 host Humboldt State, Dec. 9 at Azusa Pacific, Dec. 13 host Cal State San Bernardino) return three starters from last year's 11-16 squad for interim head coach Michelle Fortier, who was an assistant at NCAA I Southeast Missouri State in 2005-06 after 12 years as head coach at Kalamazoo College. The trio includes 5-8 junior guard Unique Anderson (8.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.0 apg), 5-7 junior guard Ashley Moody (8.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 5.0 apg) and 6-0 junior center Ally Smith (10.0 ppg). Another top player back is 6-0 junior forward Porsche Kirksey (8.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg). Two top transfers, both from Irvine Valley College, are 5-8 junior forward Vanessa Dominguez (9.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg) where she was an honorable mention Kodak All-American and second-team all-State, and 5-4 junior guard Cassey Brick (11.0 ppg). CPP has won a record-tying five NCAA II national titles and has won 48 post-season games, more than any other Division II school. CPP holds an 8-5 series advantage.

UC SAN DIEGO: The Tritons (Dec. 1 host Chico State, Dec. 2 host Cal State Stanislaus, Dec. 16 at Cal State Dominguez Hills, Dec. 19 vs. Seattle Pacific), ranked No.18 nationally, return four starters from last year's 23-5 team, arguably the best in school history, that reached the first round of the NCAA II West Regional. They are led by 5-8 senior guard Leora Juster (22.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.2 apg), a second-team Daktronics All-American, West Region Player of the Year and CCAA Most Valuable Player. Also back are 6-0 senior forward Hillary Hansen (11.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.1 apg), a second-team all-CCAA pick, and 6-0 sophomore forward Michelle Osier (12.6 ppg, 9.2 rpg), a first-team all-CCAA choice and CCAA Freshman of the Year. Another top returnee is 6-2 sophomore center Alexis Gaskin (11.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg). First meeting.

DIXIE STATE COLLEGE: The Rebels (3-2, Nov. 30 host Mesa State CO, Dec. 1 host Westminster UT, Dec. 2 host Notre Dame de Namur, Dec. 8 at Biola, Dec. 9 at California Baptist, Dec. 16 host California Baptist, Dec. 18 at Westminster UT), who are making the transition from junior college to NCAA Division II (member of Pacific West Conference), return two starters from last year's 17-15 team for first-year coach Angela Kristensen (5th year overall, 74-65). They are 6-0 sophomore forward Jessica Carver (14.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg) and 5-8 sophomore guard Lacey Christensen (4.2 ppg). Another key returnee is 5-6 sophomore guard Liz Lewis (8.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg). Three talented newcomers are 5-8 sophomore guard Chelsea Robinson (12.4 ppg), a transfer from Brigham Young University, and 6-0 senior forward Maggie Apt (4.0 ppg, 3.0 apg, 6.6 rpg), a transfer from Pittsburgh State University, and 5-6 freshman guard Tiara Bowman (15.0 ppg). First meeting.

GAME SUMMARIES:

Nov. 24 - WESTERN 68, Pacific Lutheran 61 at Bellingham (Goodrich Classic) McCarrell scored a game-high 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as Western defeated Pacific Lutheran, 68-61, in first-day action at the 10th annual WWU Lynda Goodrich Classic at Carver Gym. Pallansch had 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Vikings, and Stelmack added 11, all of them in the last five minutes. Pacific Lutheran, ranked No.16 nationally in NCAA Division III preseason top 25, fell to 2-1. Forward Nikki Johnson led the Lutes with 18 points and guard Megan Clarno added 10. The score was tied five times in the final five minutes, with the final deadlock at 59-59. PLU center Kezia Long broke that deadlock with a 12-footer with 2:02 left, but the Lutes didn't score again, as the Vikings scored the final nine points of the game. Pallansch started the charge, pulling Western within one on a free throw. Stelmack hit two free throws to give the Vikings a 62-61 lead with 1:22 to play, then hit a 3-pointer with 44 seconds left, putting Western up by four, 66-61, and essentially in control of the contest. The game was tied seven times in the first 13 minutes and neither team had a lead of more than four points until Pacific Lutheran scored the last seven points of the first half to take a 34-28 halftime lead.

Nov. 25 - WESTERN 81, Northwest Missouri State 74 OT at Bellingham (Goodrich Classic) Flynn scored 18 of her game-high 20 points after halftime and was named tournament MVP as Western rallied from a 19-point second-half deficit to defeat Northwest Missouri State, 81-74 in overtime, to close out the 10th annual WWU Lynda Goodrich Classic at Carver Gym. The game was the unofficial tourney championship as both teams won their opening-day games. Robinson added 18 points for the Vikings. Northwest Missouri State suffered its first loss, falling to 4-1. Forward Jessica Burton had 17 points for the Bearcats, guard Kelli Nelson had 15 points, and center Mandi Schumacher had 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Robinson gave Western its first lead of the game, 68-67, on a baseline jumper with 29 seconds left in regulation. A pair of free throws by Flynn extended the margin to three, but Northwest Missouri State forced overtime at 70-70 as Burton missed one 3-point attempt, but got the ball back after a Schumacher rebound and buried the second try with three seconds left. In overtime, Western took the lead for good, 75-74, on two Pallansch free throws with 3:45 left. Neither team scored again until Pallansch made two more free throws with 27 seconds left, and the Vikings sealed the victory with four more charity tosses in the final 12 seconds. Pallansch finished with 10 points and nine rebounds. Stelmack had 14 points for Western. The Bearcats led nearly the entire game, holding a 35-25 advantage at halftime and being up by 19, 44-25, with just over 15 minutes left. They were still ahead by 16, 51-35, with 12 minutes to go, but Western went on a 17-4 run keyed by a pair of Flynn 3-pointers to narrow the gap to three, 55-52, with 8:35 to play. The Vikings held Northwest Missouri State to 27.6 percent (21-of-76) shooting from the field.