MONMOUTH, Ore. –The Western Oregon University women's basketball team concluded their six-game road trip to start the season by splitting their week in Washington. The Wolves bested the Saint Martin's Saints 66-56 in the GNAC opener before falling to Seattle Pacific 73-68 to close the weekend. They now return to Monmouth for their first home game of the season to begin a four-game home swing. Tipoff Dec. 10 against Northwest Christian is set for 6 p.m. at NPE Gym.
ABOUT NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN (5-5, 2-1 CCC): The Beacons have won four of their last five games to bounce back from a 1-4 start to the year. They swept their recent trip to Walla Walla University, winning both games by 25 or more points and scoring at least 80 in the pair.
Northwest Christian is 1st in the CCC in scoring margin (+9.7), 2nd in scoring defense (62.1 ppg), 3rd in field goal percentage (.418) and 3rd in field goal percentage defense (.364).
Morgan McKinney leads the team with 15.6 points per game, good for 3rd in the CCC, and 6.4 rebounds per game. Conner Borigo is shooting an efficient 61.3% from the field on 80 attempts. She is one of just two players in the conference with a FG% above 60.
WOU vs. NCU: This is only the second time these teams have met. The Beacons won the first meeting, 65-64 in overtime Dec. 29, 2012 in Monmouth.
ABOUT WESTERN OREGON (2-4, 1-1 GNAC): The Wolves have now won two of their last three games, bookending the wins by two losses of five or fewer points.
Western Oregon opened GNAC play Nov. 29 with a 66-56 win over Saint Martin's.
Natalie DeLonge set a career-high with 17 points on 5-9 shooting from the field and 7-8 at the line. They followed up with a tight 73-68 loss to Seattle Pacific.
Keyonna Jones scored a combined 38 points over the weekend including 23 against the Falcons.
JONES KEYS OFFENSE: Sophomore guard
Keyonna Jones has scored in double figures in three 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 have been decided by five or fewer points.
REBOUNDING FORTE: Western Oregon players account for six of the top 40 list of rebounders in the conference. Currently seven Wolves are averaging 3.5 rebounds or more per game, the most in the GNAC.
NELKE PUTTING IN WORK: Senior forward
Ali Nelke is currently fourth in the GNAC in minutes played, averaging 34.2 minutes per game through four contests. That has included playing all 40 minutes of the game Nov. 17 against Colorado Mesa and logging at least 30 minutes in five of the first six games. Her current average leaves her just 1.4 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 with Northwest Nazarene moving up two places after defeating previous No. 1-ranked Alaska Anchorage last week.
| D2SIDA West Region Poll (Dec. 3, 2018) |
| Rank / School |
Record |
Points |
| 1. Northwest Nazarene (4) |
8-0 |
58 |
| 2. UC San Diego (1) |
7-0 |
53 |
| 3. Alaska Anchorage (1) |
7-1 |
51 |
| 4. Central Washington |
6-1 |
35 |
| 5. Cal Poly Pomona |
5-1 |
33 |
| 6. Dominican |
4-1 |
23 |
| 7. Cal State San Marcos |
5-2 |
19 |
| 8. Azusa Pacific |
5-3 |
16 |
| 9. Western Washington |
6-2 |
15 |
| 10. Simon Fraser |
5-2 |
10 |
