• News
• |
• Schedule
• |
• Roster
• |
• Stats
• |
• Archives

Feb. 19, 2011

Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Guard Amanda Dunbar (Sr., Marysville/Marysville-Pilchuck) had a game-high 13 points as Western Washington University won its 18th consecutive game, defeating University of Alaska Fairbanks, 68-44, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball game Saturday afternoon at Sam Carver Gymnasium on the WWU campus.

The Vikings, who are tied for No.6 in this week's Women's Basketball Coaches Association/USA Today/ESPN/NCAA Division II Top 25 and No.2 in the latest West Region rating, improved to 23-1 overall and are 16-0 in the GNAC, having already clinched the No.1 seed and home court advantage throughout the GNAC Tournament which begins on Monday, Feb. 28.

Alaska Fairbanks fell to 1-23 overall and 1-16 in the GNAC. Center Nicole Bozek led the Nanooks, who suffered their 13th straight loss, with 11 points.

UAF held a 9-8 lead a little over five minutes into the game, but the Vikings then went on a 17-3 run to take a 25-12 lead and extended the margin from there, leading 38-16 at halftime. The margin reached 31 points, with Western up 59-28 with 11 minutes left and was never less than 21 in the second half.

The 18 consecutive triumphs are the third-longest winning streak in school history, and just one short of the second-longest streak. The Vikings are 11-0 at home this season and have won 24 straight at Carver Gym.

Guard Megan Pinske (Sr., Coquitlam, BC/Port Moody) had 11 points and forward Gabby Wade (Sr., Lacey/River Ridge) grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for the Vikings, who had a 50-36 advantage on the boards. Western also held the Nanooks to just 25.9 percent field-goal shooting (15-of-58).

It was the final regular-season home game for Dunbar, Wade, Pinske and center Lauren Hefflin (Sr., Ridgefield), all of whom were honored in pre-game Senior Day ceremonies. Hefflin left the game after injuring her left knee in a collision four minutes into the second half and did not return, finishing with eight points.

The Vikings travel to Montana State Billings on Tuesday (5:15 p.m. MT) for a GNAC contest.