• The Western Oregon women's basketball team returns to action after the holiday break playing two road contests against teams with national acclaim. On Thursday, the Wolves will play at Simon Fraser, receiving votes in both Division II poll, at 7:30 p.m. in the second game of a conference doubleheader. The weekend closes out with a matchup against the 23^rd-ranked (D2SIDA) Vikings of Western Washington on New Year's Eve at 4:30 p.m.
• Both games will have coverage on WOUWolves.com/Live with video and stats.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• Western Oregon split games in the week leading up to the holidays dropping a non-league home matchup to Southern Oregon before picking up its first road win of the year with a 69-60 decision over Humboldt State.
• The Wolves could not overcome the Raiders on Dec. 12 playing with a short roster. Savannah Heugly led the team with 13 points while Jasmine Miller had a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds).
• At Humboldt State, a 14-0 run in the second quarter gave the Wolves the momentum to defeat the host Jacks. Shelby Snook led all scorers with 23 points while Sydney Azorr and Kaylie Boschma each added 13 points.
 
ABOUT WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon is averaging 64.2 points per game on the season and owns a scoring margin of 0.2.
• The Wolves are shooting 40.2 percent from the field, including 28.7 percent from 3-point range.
• WOU is averaging 13.9 free throws a game and is shooting 77.2 percent from the stripe this season.
• Western Oregon is averaging 37.4 rebounds per game, sporting a 1.7 rebounding margin.
• Western Oregon is averaging 10.7 assists, 16.0 turnovers, 5.9 steals and 2.8 blocks per game.
• Transfer guard Shelby Snook enters this weekend leading the Wolves in scoring averaging 16.9 points per game and 25.0 ppg in two league matchups.
• Snook is also averaging 4.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. She was named to the Chico State Coslet Classic All-Tournament Team earlier in the season.
• Jasmine Miller (10.7) is the only other WOU player averaging double figures. With two double-doubles on the season, Miller is the Wolves' leading rebounder at 7.0 rpg.
• Head coach Holli Howard-Carpenter is in her fourth season at Western Oregon. She has compiled a 23-66 career record at WOU.
• Familiar faces appear on Howard-Carpenter's bench with the Katie Girten, Nia Bravo and Micah Walker all returning to the Western Oregon staff.
• Western Oregon was picked to finish 11th in the 2016-17 GNAC regular season title race by the league's coaches.
 
ABOUT SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser has won 10 of their last 11 contests after dropping the season opener in November to California Baptist.
• Two Clan players are averaging double-figures in points. Meg Wilson leads the way at 13.7 points per game followed by Elisa Homer's 10.9 ppg. Overall, eight SFU players score five or more points a contest.
• Ellen Kett paces the club with 5.9 rebounds per game with the team holding nearly a four-rebound advantage over their opponents.
• SFU had an eight-game winning streak snapped when they opened league play at Alaska-Anchorage on Nov. 30. They have reeled off two straight defeating Alaska (79-77) and Nova Southeastern (76-56).
• Simon Fraser was picked to finish second in the preseason GNAC poll. Wilson, Kett and Homer were all selected to the Preseason All-GNAC Team.
• Head coach Bruce Langford had five CIS National Championships on his resume and is closing in on his 400^th career win at SFU.
 
ABOUT WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington has split its last four contests, but enters play this week with a 7-3 overall record. The Vikings host Concordia on Thursday before hosting the Wolves on Saturday afternoon.
• Senior guard Taylor Peacocke is rapidly climbing up the WWU career points list. Averaging a team-best 22.4 points per game, she is 7^th overall with 1,419 points.
• With Peacocke, three WWU players are averaging double figures with 14.4 ppg from Kiana Gandy and 10.9 ppg from Tia Briggs. Hannah Stipanovich (9.7) follows just under the 10-point per game mark.
• Briggs is the rebounding leader at 7.0 rpg with the team owning a solid 7.2 advantage on the boards.
• Western Washington was picked to win the league in the preseason GNAC poll. Peacocke, Gandy and Briggs were preseason All-GNAC selections.
• Carmen Dolfo is the winningest coach in WWU history in her 26^th season in Bellingham. She is among the top 50 active winningest coaches regardless of division and in the top 10 of active coaches in Division II.