WWU takes 2-0 conference record into games at Alaska Fairbanks and No. 14 Alaska Anchorage. PHOTO: WWU Athletics
Vikings Return to GNAC Play with Alaskan Road Trip
January 3, 2019
BELLINGHAM, Wash – The Western Washington University women’s basketball team returns to Great Northwest Athletic Conference action tonight with its annual Alaskan road trip.
The Vikings (7-3 overall, 2-0 GNAC) travel North to play at Alaska Fairbanks on Thursday (5:15 pm AKT/6:15 pm PT) and then face No. 14 Alaska Anchorage on Saturday (7:30 pm AKT/8:30 pm PT). Both games will feature a live webcast via GNAC.tv.
WWU has won six of its last seven games and is one of three undefeated teams in the GNAC joining Seattle Pacific (3-0) and Northwest Nazarene (2-0).
The Vikings were last in action prior to Holiday break, going 1-1 in the 2018 Viking Holiday Hoops Classic. WWU was edged by Lubbock Christian 67-54 and defeated Stanislaus State 77-60 to complete the non-conference portion of the 2018-19 schedule.
HOW TO WATCH
All GNAC matches, home and road, will stream live and feature live stats at GNAC.tv, with home games also streamed live onYouTube…in addition to being available online, all conference matches are available via the GNAC channel on Roku, Apple TV, Android TV and Amazon Fire TV…live links can be accessed through WWUVikings.com/Live.
LAST TIME OUT
The Vikings went 1-1 during the 2018 Viking Holiday Hoops Classic, falling to 2016 national champion Lubbock Christian 67-54 and recorded a 17-point victory over Stanislaus State 77-60…Kelsey Rogers (13.5 points/game, 7.5 rebounds/game, 11-for-15 FG) and Lexie Bland (8.0 points/game, 5.0 assists/game, 5.5 rebounds/game) were selected to the all-tournament team…WWU combined to hold its opponents to a 35.3 field goal percentage.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
· Alaska Fairbanks » The Nanooks are 3-5 overall and 0-2 in GNAC play heading into Thursday’s game…senior forward Marian Wamsley leads UAF averaging 13.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game…head coach Kerri Nakamoto is in her first year leading the Nanooks after serving as the head coach at Cal State Monterey Bay from 2013-18…All-Time Series: WWU leads the all-time series vs. UAF 49-4…current 27-game winning streak vs. the Nanooks dating back to 2004, including last 10 games in Fairbanks…went 2-0 vs. UAF last season, winning 83-49 in Bellingham and 46-38 in Fairbanks.
· Alaska Anchorage » The Seawolves are 9-1 overall and off to a 1-1 start in GNAC play…currently ranked No. 14 in the WBCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll and No. 3 in the D2SIDA West Region Media Poll…only loss this season was on the road at undefeated Northwest Nazarene on Dec. 1…UAA is led by 12.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game from senior Hannah Wandersee (both 13th in the GNAC)…head coach Ryan McCarthy is in his seventh season as UAA’s head coach…All-Time Series: WWU leads the all-time series 29-24, but the Seawolves have won six straight and 10 of the last 11 in the series…UAA leads the series 18-16 in GNAC contests (since 2001-02).
UP NEXT
Following the road trip to Alaska, the Vikings return home to Bellingham to host Concordia (Thursday, Jan. 10) and Western Oregon (Saturday, Jan. 12) in Carver Gym…following this week’s action, the Vikings will play six of their next eight games on WECU Court in Carver Gym.
-- @WWUWBB --
