MONMOUTH, Ore. –The Western Oregon University women's basketball team opened their home schedule last week with a convincing 79-62 win over the Northwest Christian Beacons. Now winners of three of their last four games, the Wolves turn their attention to Notre Dame de Namur who come to Monmouth on Wednesday. Tipoff against the Argonauts is set for 1 p.m. at NPE Gym.
ABOUT NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR (2-6, 1-3 PacWest): Notre Dame de Namur was able to snap a three-game losing streak earlier this month with a 66-46 win over conference foe Academy of Art. It was the first and only home win the Argonauts have collected so far in a slow start to the year. They were forced to cancel two games in the middle of November due to air quality to shorten their home schedule and stretch their early-season road trip into a five-game endeavor.
The Argonauts do not have a scorer averaging in double figures yet this season, but Anaya Rodisha is knocking on the door. Through eight games the senior guard is averaging 9.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
The team's first eight contests have highlighted a strong defense which has allowed just 62.4 points per game, good for third lowest in the PacWest Conference. They have allowed fewer than 50 points on three occasions this season.
WOU vs. NDNU: This is the fourth meeting of the teams since WOU's move to the NCAA. Western Oregon is currently 2-1overall vs. the Argos and 1-1 at home. The Wolves topped NDNU 81-62 last year in Belmont in their first meeting in four years. The last time the teams met in Monmouth, Notre Dame de Namur pulled out a 64-63 win Nov. 8, 2013. Western Oregon's last home win in the series came Nov. 21, 2008, 85-53.
ABOUT WESTERN OREGON (3-4, 1-1 GNAC): The Wolves have now won three of their last four games, getting their largest victory of the season (17) in their latest outing vs. Northwest Christian Dec. 10. The Wolves also set their season-high in scoring with 79 points in the victory, led by the 14 points – 12 coming in the first half – of junior
Natalie DeLonge.
Ali Nelke registered her second consecutive double-double and third of the season with 10 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. She has a combined seven blocks and 69.2 field goal percentage over her last two games.
Wednesday represents the second of four straight home games for the Wolves. They will not head back on the road until Jan. 10 to take on Simon Fraser.
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL: The seven turnovers committed Dec. 10 against Northwest Christian is the fewest turnovers committed by the Wolves in a game during their NCAA-era history dating back to the 2000-01 season.
SHARP-SHOOTING SENIOR: Ali Nelke currently leads the Great Northwest Athletic conference in both field goal percentage (61.0) and free throw percentage (1.000). She is also in the GNAC's top-10 in offensive rebounds (2nd), minutes played (3rd), blocks (4th), rebounding (5th), and assist/turnover ratio (7th),
TEAM CONTRIBUTION: In the Wolves' 79-62 win Dec. 10 over Northwest Christian, nine separate players scored at least five points in the game while four scored in double figures. Five players have a season average of seven or more points as well.
JONES KEYS OFFENSE: Sophomore guard
Keyonna Jones has scored in double figures in four consecutive games, including a career-high 23 points Dec. 1 at Seattle Pacific.
BLOCK PARTY: WOU'S seven team blocks Dec. 1 at Seattle Pacific matches their highest single-game total since an eight-block performance Dec. 7, 2013 in a 71-63 overtime win against Central Washington. It also matches the highest total for a game finished in regulation since Nov. 17, 2012 when Western Oregon beat Pacific Lutheran 74-62.
TIGHT START TO THE SEASON: Of the Wolves' first six games, three were decided by five or fewer points.
REBOUNDING FORTE: Western Oregon players account for five of the top 40 list of rebounders in the conference. Currently six Wolves are averaging 3.5 rebounds or more per game.
NELKE PUTTING IN WORK: Senior forward
Ali Nelke is currently third in the GNAC in minutes played, averaging 33.7 minutes per game. That has included playing all 40 minutes of the game Nov. 17 against Colorado Mesa and logging at least 30 minutes in six of the first seven games. Her current average leaves her just 1.8 minutes shy of the school NCAA-era record for single season average set by Michelle Laski during the 2003-04 campaign.
2018-19 GNAC PRESEASON POLL: The Wolves were picked to finish in 10th place according to the GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll… Picking up six first-place votes, Northwest Nazarene was chosen to repeat as regular season champions after going 22-5 overall and 18-2 in GNAC play a year ago… Also picking up first-place votes was Alaska Anchorage (5).
2017-18 REVIEW: The Wolves ended last year with an 11-15 overall record and a 7-13 record in GNAC play to place 9th in the league standings… were ranked ninth in the GNAC after scoring 65.8 points per game… ranked seventh in defense, allowing 68.6 points per game and second in free throw percentage (.793).
D2 WEST REGION POLL: Five GNAC teams were represented in the D2SIDA West Region poll this week. Northwest Nazarene remained in the top spot for the second straight week while picking up another first-place vote.
| D2SIDA West Region Poll (Dec. 17, 2018) |
| Rank / School |
Record |
Points |
| 1. Northwest Nazarene (5) |
9-0 |
59 |
| 2. UC San Diego (1) |
8-0 |
54 |
| 3. Alaska Anchorage |
7-1 |
48 |
| 4. Cal Poly Pomona |
7-1 |
36 |
| 5. Central Washington |
6-2 |
30 |
| 6. Dominican |
6-1 |
27 |
| T7. Western Washington |
6-2 |
23 |
| T7. Azusa Pacific |
8-3 |
23 |
| 9. Simon Fraser |
5-2 |
14 |
| 10. Chico State |
7-1 |
9 |
