BELLINGHAM, Wash. --- The Western Oregon women's basketball team saw its most successful season in 24 years come to close in the GNAC Championships semifinal to top-seeded Western Washington 66-55 on Friday at WECU Court at Carver Gym.

The Wolves finished the season the season 15-13, the most wins for the program since winning 16 games in 2001-02 (the first year of the GNAC and just the second year in NCAA Division II). WOU also picked up its first GNAC Championships win in program history with Thursday's win over Northwest Nazarene after losing in the opening round in its other two appearances (2022 and 2011). The Wolves' nine conference wins is also the most since 2001-02.

As for Friday's matchup, the Wolves found themselves within striking distance of the Vikings (24-6) midway through the third quarter after trailing by 14 earlier in the quarter thanks to a 10-0 run ignited by a Salma Youngblood 3-pointer and capped by a pair of Mya India Thomas free throws to make it 42-38 with 4:17 left in the third.

However, it's as close as WOU got as WWU went on a 12-2 run that bled early into the fourth quarter to build the lead back to 14.

Ciona Wells led the Wolves with 16 points and four assists while Thomas added 13 points and five rebounds.