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March 7, 2010

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The Western Washington University women's basketball team is the No. 3 seed in the West Regional of the NCAA Division II National Tournament and faces Chico State University in an opening-round game Friday at 12:30 p.m.at Seattle Pacific University's Royal Brougham Pavilion.

Western, which was ranked No.20 in last week's USA Today/ESPN/NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, enters the tournament with a 23-4 record. It is the 10th appearance in 11 years as a full NCAA member for the Vikings, who missed the post-season only in 2008.

In the other opening-round games at the West Regional, No.2 seed UC San Diego (24-4) faces No.7 Humboldt State University (19-10) at 2:30 p.m., No.4 University of Alaska Anchorage (23-4) meets No.5 Cal Poly Pomona (22-6) at 5:30 p.m., and top seed Seattle Pacific University (24-3) hosts No.8 Hawaii Pacific University (17-6) at 7:30 p.m.

The Vikings met Chico State earlier this season, claiming an 80-59 victory on Haggen Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium on Dec. 20.

Western is led by three players who each average better than 14 points a game. Junior guard Amanda Dunbar (Marysville/Marysville-Pilchuck) is the top scorer at 17.3 points a game, the best mark by any Viking since the 1995-96 season. She ranks No.5 nationally in both treys per game (3.3) and in 3-point accuracy at a near school-record pace of 47.1 percent (88-of-187), with her 88 3-pointers being a school single-season record.

Senior center Jessica Summers (Blaine) is averaging 16.1 points and 8.9 rebounds, sharing the GNAC lead in rebounds and being fourth in scoring.

Senior forward Willow Cabe (McCleary/Elma) is the third member of Western's Big Three, contributing 14.1 points and 5.9 rebounds.

Senior guard Ashley Fenimore (Lynnwood/Meadowdale) averages 6.6 points and leads the GNAC in assists at 3.9 a game. Junior forward Megan Pinske (Coquitlam, BC/Port Moody) completes the starting lineup, contributing 7.7 points while leading the GNAC in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0).

Western coach Carmen Dolfo is in her 19th season as head coach with a 398-156 record (71.8) percent, and is leading the Vikings into post-season play for the 18th time. Dolfo entered the season ranked No.14 among active NCAA II coaches in winning percentage and No.23 in career victories.

Chico State enters the post-season 21-9, having won 13 of its last 15 games after an 8-7 start. The Wildcats ran off 10 straight victories prior to falling to host Humboldt State, 85-55, in the finals of the California Collegiate Athletic Association tournament Saturday.

"I think it's more fun in the tournament to play someone outside your conference that you haven't seen for a while," said Dolfo. "Chico State is an athletic team. They like to run, they've got some good shooters and they're well coached. They play really hard."

Junior guard Natasha Smith paces the Wildcats, averaging team-highs of 11.2 points and 3.7 assists. Senior guard Melissa Richardson contributes 10.3 points a contest, and sophomore guard Synchro Bull averages 10.0 points.

The two teams met at Seattle Pacific in the 2005 West Regional, the Wildcats claimed an 85-75 semifinal victory.

The regional semifinals are played Sat., Mar. 13, with the final Mon., Mar. 15. The regional champion advances to the NCAA II Elite Eight at St. Joseph, Missouri, on Mar. 23-26.

Host Seattle Pacific won the GNAC with a 15-1 conference record and has won 11 straight games. The Falcons' last loss was to Western, 54-40, in Bellingham on Jan. 23, but SPU claimed a 70-67 triumph over the Vikings in Seattle on Feb. 20.

"I think the team is excited the tournament is in Seattle," Dolfo said. "It gives the players a better opportunity to play in front of family and friends." Alaska Anchorage has won the last two West Region crowns, and Cal Poly Pomona, a five-time national champion, is making its first regional appearance since 2005.

This is the 37th post-season appearance in the 39-year history of women's basketball at Western.

NCAA DIVISION II WEST REGIONAL
host Seattle Pacific, Royal Brougham Pavilion
Seattle, Wash.

March 12 (Fri.)
Game #1 - No.3 seed West Washington vs. No.6 seed Chico State - 12:30 p.m.
Game #2 - No.2 seed UC San Diego vs. No.7 seed Humboldt State - 2:30 p.m.
Game #3 - No.4 seed Alaska Anchorage vs. No.5 seed Cal Poly Pomona - 5:30 p.m.
Game #4 - No.1 seed Seattle Pacific vs. No.8 seed Hawaii Pacific - 7:30 p.m.

March 13 (Sat.)
Game #5 - Winner Game #1 vs. Winner Game #2 - 5 p.m.
Game #6 - Winner Game #3 vs. Winner Game #4 - 7 p.m.

March 15 (Mon.)
Game #7 - Winner Game #5 vs. Winner Game #6 - 7 p.m.

NCAA II ELITE EIGHT
March 23-24, 26 (Tue., Wed., Fri.)
at St. Joseph, MO (St. Joseph Civic Arena)
(host Missouri Western State University)