MONMOUTH, Ore. –The Western Oregon University women's basketball team begins a four-game road trip this week to close out the month. After splitting a visit from Alaska Anchorage and Alaska last weekend, the Wolves head to Concordia Jan. 22 and MSUB Jan. 26 for their first meeting of the year with either team. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and 6 p.m. PST, respectively.

ABOUT CONCORDIA (7-9, 2-6 GNAC): After tripping up with a five-game losing streak, the Cavaliers have gone 2-2 over their last two weeks, tallying a +10 scoring margin over that time to pick up their first two conference wins of the year. CU gave No. 12 Alaska Anchorage a run for their money last Saturday, pushing the Seawolves in a 75-68 UAA win.

Concordia holds one of just four positive turnover margins in the GNAC, forcing 285 while committing 275. Despite the positive mark on the season, they hold the second-highest turnover total behind only Western Washington's 303.

Sophomore Olivia Vezaldenos has taken the lead for the Cavs' offense, averaging 14.4 points per game while ranked 25th in the nation in made 3-pointers per game, averaging 2.94. Keesha Sarman and Erin Hibie are two of the top rebounders in the GNAC, combining for more rebounds than any other team duo.

WOU vs. CU: Western Oregon is 7-4 against Concordia since 2000. The Wolves have won two straight and four of the last six dating back to 2016. Concordia's last win in the series came in a 69-56 victory Feb. 7, 2017, in Monmouth. WOU is 3-3 on the road.

ABOUT MSUB (7-7, 3-5 GNAC): The defending regional champs have fallen back to .500 overall with losses in three of their last four games dating back to Jan. 10. Two of those three losses have come to ranked opponents, losing to then-No. 14 Alaska Anchorage two weeks ago before a 102-75 loss to No. 4 Northwest Nazarene last Saturday. The Yellowjackets were outscored 354-255 during that run, giving up 102 points to the Nighthawks Jan. 19 in Nampa.

The Yellowjackets have the worst scoring defense in the GNAC this season, giving up 73.5 points per game. Opponents have also shot 43.7 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from 3-point range; both inside the conference's top three.

The youth movement of the 'Jackets has been one of their biggest strengths. Sophomore Hannah Collins sits just 0.3 points per game away from being the conference's leading scorer, averaging 15.0 per game in 13 appearances. Freshman Taryn Shelley is one point and two rebounds away from a double-double average, good for the third-best rebounding average in the GNAC.

WOU vs. MSUB: Western Oregon is 6-23 against MSUB since 2001. The Wolves' 77-65 win Feb. 17, 2018, in Billings snapped a five-game winning streak in the series for the 'Jackets. MSUB has won 14 of the last 17 meetings dating back to 2010. WOU is 3-11 on the road.

ABOUT WESTERN OREGON (6-8, 3-5 GNAC): For the second straight week the Wolves went 1-1 to remain two games below .500 in both overall and conference record. WOU is amidst arguably their toughest month of the season for schedule. They have faced each of the top five teams by record in the GNAC and still have another meeting with No. 4 Northwest Nazarene before they flip the calendar to February.

Picking up their largest victory of the season, 79-50 against Alaska, the Wolves once again shot well, hitting 31-of-58 shots from the field for 53.4 percent. They additionally held the Nanooks to just 29.5 percent shooting in the game and 16.7 percent from 3-point range.

Natalie DeLonge set a career-high with 24 points, adding on nine rebounds and an assist. Olivia Denton pulled down 10 rebounds herself to go along with six points and a pair of assists.
After last Saturday's 79 points, the 65.1 points per game average is the highest scoring average of the season for WOU.

THE HIGHS AND THE LOWS: In WOU's 79-50 win Jan. 19 at home against Alaska, the Wolves matched their highest point total of the season while also holding the Nanooks to an opponent-low. As a result, the Wolves had their largest win of the season at 29 points. The Nanooks were also the victims of WOU's lowest points allowed last season, scoring 49 Feb. 8, 2018, in Monmouth.

BACK-TO-BACK CAREER NIGHTS: Natalie DeLonge set a career-high with 23 points Jan. 17 at home against Alaska Anchorage. She wasted no time topping that mark, going for 24 points in her very next game Jan. 19 against Alaska. She is now averaging 14.4 points per game through 14 appearances. In her last eight games, she has scored at least 14 points and picked up at least six rebounds in each contest, including two double-doubles.

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. They repeated that effort Jan. 19 against Alaska with another seven blocks.

NOT BY A LONG SHOT: Western Oregon is having one of their best shooting seasons from the paint in their NCAA history. As a result, they have taken fewer shots from 3-point range. The five 3-point attempts Jan. 10 against Simon Fraser was the fewest taken since they attempted just four Jan. 14, 2012 in a 67-53 win over Saint Martin's.
 
EFFICIENCY IS THE KEY: WOU is currently shooting 41.1 percent from the field as a team. That mark is their best team shooting line since the 2011-12 campaign when they finished with a 41.6 percent shooting season. It is also the second-highest clip since 2002-03.
 
LEADING SCORER: Junior Natalie DeLonge has been the Wolves' leading scorer in 10 of 14 games this season including six straight.

KEEP 'EM OFF THE BOARDS: Western Oregon has allowed the second-fewest opponent offensive rebounds in the conference, giving up just 144 for a .724 defensive rebounding percentage.
 
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. Additionally, after giving up at least 17 turnovers in each of their first five games, the Wolves have turned the ball over 15 times or less in five of the last seven.
 
SHARP-SHOOTING SENIOR: Ali Nelke currently ranks 1st in the Great Northwest Athletic conference in field goal percentage (.584) while staying perfect at the free throw line this season at a perfect 22-for-22. She is also in the GNAC's top-10 in assist/turnover ratio (2nd), offensive rebounds (2nd), minutes played (2nd), blocks (4th) and rebounding (t-8th).
 
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' OFFENSIVE RUN: Sophomore guard Keyonna Jones scored in double figures in four consecutive games between Nov. 17 and Dec. 10, including a career-high 23 points Dec. 1 at Seattle Pacific. She is averaging 10.7 points per game this season.
 
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 three Wolves are averaging five rebounds or more per game. The team's 21 offensive rebounds Dec. 19 is tied for the most in a game since Dec. 17, 2014 when WOU pulled down 26 offensive boards in a 73-60 win over Holy Names.
 
NELKE PUTTING IN WORK: Senior forward Ali Nelke is currently 2nd in the GNAC in minutes played, averaging 33.9 minutes per game. That has included playing all 40 minutes of the game Nov. 17 against Colorado Mesa. Nelke has logged at least 30 minutes in all but two games so far this year. Her current average leaves her just 1.6 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: Three GNAC teams were represented in the D2SIDA West Region poll this week. Undefeated Northwest Nazarene remained in the top spot while picking up five of the six first-place votes.
 

D2SIDA West Region Poll (Jan. 21, 2019)
Rank / School	Record	Points
1. Northwest Nazarene (5)	16-0	59
2. UC San Diego (1)	15-0	55
3. Alaska Anchorage	15-1	48
4. Cal Poly Pomona	14-2	42
5. Azusa Pacific	15-3	33
6. Dominican	13-2	27
7. Central Washington	11-4	23
8. Cal State San Marcos	10-5	18
9. Chico State	11-4	13
10. Humboldt State	10-5	8