ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Western Washington University women’s basketball team was dealt its first Great Northwest Athletic Conference defeat of the season, falling 68-50 to No. 14 nationally-ranked Alaska Anchorage Saturday night at the Alaska Airlines Center.
The Vikings dropped to 8-4 overall and 3-1 in conference play, but have still won seven of their last nine games. The Seawolves improved to 11-1 overall and 3-1 in GNAC play. WWU, UAA, Central Washington and Seattle Pacific are all tied for 2nd in the conference standings behind undefeated Northwest Nazarene (12-0, 4-0).
Sophomore forward Kelsey Rogers (Bothell, WA/Lynnwood) led the Vikings with 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting. Rogers also tallied a team-high 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocked shots and 2 steals. She has led the Vikings in scoring in 8 of WWU’s 12 games this season.
Freshman forward Katrina Gimmaka (Everson, WA/Nooksack Valley) added 9 points off the bench on 4-for-6 shooting. Sophomore guard Emma Duff (Tumwater, WA/Black Hills) and senior guard Bobbi Westendorf (Auburn, WA/Kentridge/Tacoma CC) each had 8 points.
The Seawolves had three players reach double-figures in scoring, led by 17 points from GNAC Preseason Player of the Year Hannah Wandersee. Safiyyah Yasin added 16 points on 5-for-12 shooting (3-for-4 3FG) and Sydni Stallworth chipped in 10 points.
