WWU women entertain No. 7 Simon Fraser Saturday

With first place in the league standings on the line and riding a four-game winning streak, the Western Washington University women's basketball team entertains Simon Fraser University in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference contest featuring two nationally ranked foes Saturday (5:15 p.m.), Jan. 12, at Sam Carver Gymnasium on the WWU campus.

The game will be broadcast live on KBAI Radio (AM 930 - Bellingham, www.930kbai.com) with Doug Lange providing the play-by-play and Mark Scholten the color commentary. A webcast and live stats for the contest can be found at www.wwuvikings.com.

The Vikings, which moved up nine spots and is ranked No.11 in the latest USA Today Sports/ESPN NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, are 10-2 overall and tied for the conference lead at 4-0 with the Clan, which is 11-1 overall and ranked No.7.

Last week, WWU recorded its second sweep of a road trip to Alaska in three seasons, notching wins at Alaska Anchorage, 70-60, and Alaska Fairbanks, 87-59.

Two weeks prior to that, the Vikings took close decisions over two Top 25-ranked teams at the South Point Holiday Hoops Classic, prevailing against No.6 Washburn KS, 64-62, and No.15 Grand Canyon, 72-68 in overtime.

WWU opened its season with six victories, all at home, before being beaten by host Chico State, 75-74, and Sonoma State, 68-63, at the CCAA/GNAC Crossover Classic. The Vikings have won 10 straight games at Carver Gym over the last two seasons.

Three seniors pace the Vikings, led by center Britt Harris, who is averaging a team-best 14.7 points per game, and is second in rebounding with a 5.3 average.

Forward Trishi Williams, who is averaging 10.6 points and 5.2 rebounds, leads the squad in both assists at 3.5 and steals at 2.7, and point guard Corinn Waltrip is averaging 10.1 points and is shooting 43.1 percent (22-of-51) from 3-point range. Junior forward Sarah Hill, who made her first career starts during the four-game victory string, leads WWU in rebounds with a 7.0 average.

The Vikings are second in the GNAC in scoring defense (58.6), scoring margin (13.8) and blocked shots (4.5).

Simon Fraser (11-1 overall, 4-0 conference) has won its last eight games after being beaten for the only time this season, 62-45 by Colorado Mesa.

The Clan leads the GNAC in a number of statistical categories, including scoring defense (52.8), scoring margin (21.3), field-goal percentage (46.1), field-goal percentage defense (36.1), 3-point percentage (38.8), 3-point percentage defense (24.8) and blocked shots (4.9).

Simon Fraser, which is second in scoring offense (74.1), is led by 6-3 senior center Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe. She is averaging 16.4 points, third in the GNAC, leads the league in rebounds (12.8) and field-goal percentage (68.4, 78-of-114), and is fourth in blocks (1.3).

Raincock-Ekunwe, the preseason conference Player of the Year choice, already is the GNAC career leader in double-doubles for points and rebounds with 51. Her career totals are 1,170 points and 807 rebounds.

All five starters from last year's 17-11 team return for coach Bruce Langford (12th year, 291-65). Among them are 6-1 sophomore forward Erin Chambers (15.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 42.3 3-pt. pct., 30-of-71) and 5-10 senior guard Kristina Collins (9.5 ppg, 4.7 apg).

WWU holds a 38-31 series advantage, winning all five meetings over the last two seasons.

THREE-DOT NOTES: Harris was MVP at both the West Region Crossover Classic and South Point Holiday Hoops Classic. She also was picked to the Lynda Goodrich Classic all-tournament team ... Williams was the Goodrich Classic MVP, Hill being named all-tourney at the CCAA/GNAC Classic, sophomore forward Sydney Donaldson at the West Region Crossover Classic, and Waltrip at the SPHHC ... WWU earned GNAC Team of the Week honors for its performance at the SPHHS, prevailing over No.6 Washburn KS, 64-62, and No.15 Grand Canyon, 72-68 in overtime.

Last year, WWU finished 22-8 and reached the semifinal round at the West Regional. Four starters and 10 letter winners return from that squad ... WWU was rated No.12 in the Division II Bulletin preseason poll ... Waltrip was a second-team conference all-star last year and was named to three all-tournament teams. She also is a two-time GNAC Academic all-star. Williams was named to two all-tournament teams during the 2011-12 campaign.

TOUGH EXHIBITION SCHEDULE: WWU readied for the season with three exhibition games, two against NCAA I opponents. The Vikings began with a 71-51 home win over British Columbia on Oct. 27, before falling at Seattle U., 100-93 in double overtime, on Nov. 3, and 71-59 at Oregon State on Nov. 10 after leading by four at halftime. Harris averaged 14.7 points and 8.0 rebounds in the three games and Waltrip scored at a 13.7 clip.

PRE-SEASON HONORS: Three Vikings - Harris, Waltrip and Williams - were named to the GNAC preseason all-conference team.

VIKINGS FIRST IN GNAC COACHES POLL: WWU received seven of 10 first-place votes as it was picked to win the GNAC title in the coaches' preseason poll. The Vikings previously won GNAC championships in 2002, 2006 and 2011 (regular season).

HOME COURT DOMINANCE: The Vikings are 428-72 (85.6 percent) in 41 seasons at Carver Gym. Their longest home court win streak was 29 from 1983 to 1986.

COACH DOLFO: Carmen Dolfo is in her 22nd year as head coach at WWU. She has a 456-171 (72.7 percent) record and prior to the season ranked No.12 among active NCAA II coaches in winning percentage and No.13 in victories. Her winning percentage in NCAA II all-time ranks No.24 and her victory total No.31. Dolfo's teams have reached post-season play 20 times and have won 20 or more games 16 times. She has been named GNAC Coach of the Year in 2004, 2006 and 2011; 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 WWU.

TRADITION OF SUCCESS: With 888 victories (306 losses, 74.4 percent) in its 42-year history, WWU is one of just 15 colleges in all divisions of the NCAA to reach the 850-plateau... The Vikings have made 39 post-season appearances, including one stretch of 28 straight, with one national semifinal and three quarterfinal finishes ... They have made 13 West Regional appearances in their 14 seasons as a NCAA II member, and also have had 30 20-win seasons ... WWU has had 21 winning streaks of 10 or more games with its longest being 21 ... Former WWU coach Lynda Goodrich, now the Vikings' director of athletics, is a member of the NAIA National Hall of Fame. She coached WWU for 19 seasons, winning more than 400 games (411-127, 76.4 percent). Another Viking NAIA Hall of Famer is forward Jo Metzger (1977-81), who earned first-team All-America honors in 1980 and 1981 ... WWU has had 13 first, second or third-team All-Americans.

COLLEGIATE FIRST: WWU became the first college in the country to boast two 400-win women's basketball coaches. Lynda Goodrich, now in her 26th year as the Vikings' director of athletics, posted 411 victories from 1971 to 1990, and current coach Carmen Dolfo is in her 22nd season with 456.

ON THE WEB: All Viking home games are being video streamed live and are available free at http://wwu.nmtvsports.com. For up-to-date statistics, box scores of every game, records, stories, etc., see the WWU Athletics 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

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