MONMOUTH, Ore. --- The Western Oregon women's basketball team coming off its first win over a ranked opponent in 10 years hosts Warner Pacific 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Wolves Athletic Center - the first regular season matchup (for the Wolves at least) against the Knights since 2004 (though Wednesday's matchup is an exhibition for WPU).

Western Oregon (5-3) vs. Warner Pacific (4-4)
6 p.m. Wednesday | Wolves Athletic Center (Monmouth, Ore.)
Tickets | Watch | Live Stats
All-Time: 14-4 • Last 10: 8-2
Streak: Won 2
Last: 79-42 WOU at home (Dec. 11, 2004)

The teams heading in ...

• The Wolves are 5-3 on the season - including a 2-0 start to GNAC action last week that was capped by a win over No. 16 Alaska Anchorage. The Wolves enter Wednesday ninth in DII in scoring offense (81.8) and 3-point percentage (38.0), second in 3-pointers per game (9.9) and first in fewest turnovers per game (10.4) and turnover-to-assist ratio (1.54).  Kylani Rookstool leads the team in scoring (17.1), 3s per game (2.8) and rebounding (5.4).
• The Knights are an NAIA team that enters Wednesday 4-4 on the season, though the contest against WOU is an exhibition for WPU (but not for the Wolves). Skylar Groesbeck leads the team in scoring (13.0) along with averaging 6.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Riley Layton is second at 12.8 points to go along with a team-best 6.3 rebounds.

 

Last time out ...

• The Wolves are coming off their first win over a ranked opponent in 10 years as they defeated No. 16 Alaska Anchorage 77-69 on Saturday in Monmouth. Triniti Youngblood and Kylani Rookstool led the Wolves with 21 points apiece with Rookstool adding six rebounds. Ciona Wells finished with 10 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals while Natalie Brown just missed a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds.
• WPU is coming off a 64-60 home win over Bushnell on Saturday, rallying from an eight-point deficit thanks to outscoring Bushnell 27-11 in the third quarter. Bryten Gumke led WPU with 19 points (going 5-for-7 from 3) while Skylar Groesbeck had 16 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

WOU Season Notes

Knocking off a ranked foe for the first time in 10 years ...
In WOU's 77-69 win on Dec. 6 over No. 16 Alaska Anchorage, it marked the first time the Wolves have defeated a ranked opponent since beating Seattle Pacific on Jan. 22, 2015. It broke a streak of 32-consecutive losses to ranked opponents.

Wolves named GNAC Team of the Week (Dec. 8)
The Western Oregon women's basketball team was named the GNAC Team of the Week on Dec. 8 after starting GNAC play 2-0 - capping it off with a win over No. 16 Alaska Anchorage, the team's first win over a ranked opponent since 2015.

Taking care of the rock ...
The Wolves have started the season taking care of the ball as they are first  in DII in fewest turnovers per game (9.8) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.54).

Sharpshooting Wolves ...
WOU early in the season has been connecting from distance as it is second in DII in 3-pointers per game (9.9) and ninth in 3-point percentage (38.0).Kylani Rookstool leads the way for the Wolves from beyond the arc, hitting 2.8 per game - 23rd in DII and second in the GNAC.

Lighting up the scoreboard ...
The Wolves have come out on fire offensively as they are ninth in DII in scoring at 81.8 points per game. This includes hitting the century mark for the first time in 15 years in a 104-77 win over Evergreen State on Nov. 22 in Monmouth.

Wolves break 3-point record vs Evergreen State (Nov. 22)
WOU broke a 3-point school record and scored the most points in a game in 24 years in a 104-77 victory over Evergreen State on Nov. 22 at Wolves Athletic Center.

WOU hit a school-record 16 3-pointers - breaking the record of 15 set in 2017 - and the 104 points is the first time the Wolves have scored 100-plus since 2010 and is the most points since defeating Alaska Anchorage 113-51 in 2001.