FAIRBANKS, Alaska — The Western Oregon women's basketball team defeated Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday to clinch a spot in the GNAC Championships, securing its first berth in the conference's six-team tournament format since 2011.

 WOU improved to 14-12 overall and locked up the No. 5 seed — the highest seed in program history — and will face No. 4 Northwest Nazarene at 2:15 p.m. Thursday at Carver Gym in Bellingham, Washington.

The 14 victories mark the Wolves' most wins in a season since the 2001-02 team finished with 16.

As for Saturday, Western Oregon led 22-16 after the first quarter and carried a narrow 37-36 edge into halftime. The game turned in the third quarter, when the Wolves limited Alaska Fairbanks to just six points while building a double-digit cushion. WOU used defensive pressure and rebounding to create separation, then maintained control through the fourth quarter to close out the win.

Ciona Wells paced the Wolves with 21 points, knocking down five 3-pointers. Triniti Youngblood added 12 points and eight rebounds off the bench, while Natalie Brown recorded 10 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Mya India Thomas contributed 10 points as Western Oregon finished with 43 bench points and a 51-46 rebounding advantage.