MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon women's basketball team returns home this week after two games in Washington to host the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks and Central Washington Wildcats in their first meetings of the 2019-20 season.

Western Oregon (5-10, 2-6 GNAC) dropped both games on the road last week, falling 71-64 to the Saint Martin's Saints and 73-51 to the Seattle Pacific Falcons on the road. Sophomore Amber Winkler set the school's single-game NCAA record for blocks with eight last Thursday against SMU. Winkler added on eight points, five rebounds and two steals in 40 minutes of work.

The Wolves are averaging 57.7 points per game while allowing 62.8 to opponents this season. They are shooting 36.6 percent from the field and 25.2 percent from 3-point range.

Keyonna Jones and Shariah Green lead WOU in scoring, averaging 10.9 and 10.6 points per game, respectively. Green adds on 4.8 rebounds per game and Jones 2.7 assists.

Northwest Nazarene (11-5, 6-2 GNAC) is a year removed from a GNAC title and right back in the hunt for it again this season. Currently in a tie for second in the conference, they sit two games behind Alaska Anchorage after losing two of their last three games, including a 73-58 defeat at the hands of the Seawolves.

The Nighthawks lead the conference in scoring, averaging 78.8 points per game, but have allowed the second-most, giving up 68.8 points a night to opponents. They are shooting 44.2 percent from the field and 32.1 percent from 3-point range to pace their potent offense. Avery Albrecht leads the team averaging 16.1 points per game, with Marina Valles at 14.4 per contest.

WOU is 11-25 against NNU all-time. The Nighthawks have won five straight in the series. WOU's last win over NNU was on Jan. 21, 2017, in Nampa and their last win at home on Feb. 28, 2015. WOU is 6-12 at home in the series.

Central Washington (9-7, 4-4 GNAC) finds themselves in the thick of the battle for a conference tournament spot, currently tied for fifth with MSUB in the standings.

The Wildcats have lost four of their last six games, most recently having a two-game winning streak snapped with a 69-65 loss to Simon Fraser at home.

CWU has four players inside the GNAC's top 20 in scoring, led by the 14.4 points per game of Alexis Pana. Samantha Bowman leads the team with 7.7 rebounds a game and Kaelie Flores sits only behind Western Oregon's Amber Winkler for the conference lead in blocks at 1.8 per game.

WOU is 12-26 against the Wildcats all-time. Western Oregon won their most recent meeting to end last season and snap a 10-game losing streak in the series. Western's last win over Central in Monmouth was on Dec. 7, 2013. WOU is 8-11 at home in the series.

Western's game Thursday, Jan. 23, against Northwest Nazarene is set to tip at 5:15 p.m. while their matchup with Central Washington on Saturday, Jan. 25, will tip at 2 p.m. PST at NPE Gym. Both games are the first of doubleheaders to be followed by the Western Oregon men's basketball team. Live stats and video will be available here.