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Two teams that have won or shared every Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball title since the league was formed in 2001 collide in a regionally televised contest Wednesday (6 p.m.) on FSN Northwest when Western Washington University entertains Seattle Pacific University at Sam Carver Gymnasium on the ²ÝÁñÉçÇø campus.

The Vikings, who are ranked No.7 in this week's Women's Basketball Coaches Association USA Today/ESPN NCAA Division II Top 25, are 17-1 overall and lead the GNAC standings with a perfect 10-0 record in their quest for the top seed in the GNAC tournament. Still ranked fourth in this week's West Region poll, they are working on a 12-game winning streak and have won 20 straight games at Carver Gym (7-0 this season, last loss was 65-62 to Alaska Anchorage on Feb. 28, 2009).

Seattle Pacific, which dropped out of the Top 25 this week, is 13-5 overall and third in the GNAC at 7-3 behind second-place Alaska Anchorage (8-3, 17-5). The Falcons have won or tied for the last four conference titles and are winners of seven overall. Western took the other two championships in 2002 and 2006.

The SPU game concludes a three-game home stand for the Vikings, who began it last week with wins over Northwest Nazarene, 64-59, and Central Washington, 76-66.

Following the SPU game, Western goes on the road to face Saint Martin's on Saturday (7 p.m.) and Western Oregon on Monday, Feb. 7 (5 p.m.). The Seattle Pacific game can be heard live on KPUG Radio (1170 AM - Bellingham) and the Saint Martin's and Western Oregon contests on KBAI Radio (930 AM - Bellingham).

Only a 65-62 overtime loss to No.17 Chico State on Dec. 10 stands between Western and an unbeaten season. The Vikings, who have had three games decided in overtime, opened the campaign with five wins, beginning with an 82-64 triumph over No.11 UC San Diego. In a third game versus a nationally ranked opponent, Western won 81-61 at No. 15 Alaska Anchorage.

Western head coach Carmen Dolfo, who is in her 20th season, is the winningest coach in school history. Her victory total stands at 415 (158 losses, 72.4 winning percentage). Current ²ÝÁñÉçÇø athletic director Lynda Goodrich won 411 games (125 losses) in 19 campaigns from 1971 to 1990. Western is the first school at any collegiate level to have two women's basketball coaches reach the 400 milestone.

Western tops the GNAC in scoring offense (71.5), 3-point percentage (36.1, 141-of-391), 3-point makes (7.8, 141) and 3-point percentage defense (25.5, 64-of-251). They are second in the league in scoring defense (54.9), scoring margin (17.2), field-goal percentage (43.9, 457-1042), assists (15.8, 284), turnover margin (4.78), and assist-to-turnover ratio (0.9).

Nationally, the Vikings are ranked 12th in 3-point field-goal defense (25.5), 15th in both scoring defense and scoring margin and 17th in 3-point percentage defense.

Senior guard Amanda Dunbar is scoring a team-best 13.3 points per game, averaging 16.0 points and 5.8 assists over the last eight contests. She leads the GNAC in 3-point makes at 2.4 (43), is third in assists (4.3) and seventh in points.

With 1,501 points during her four-year career, Dunbar ranks fourth in school history in that category and fifth all-time in the GNAC. She also is the Western and GNAC career record holder for 3-point makes at 238.

Two weeks ago, Dunbar had 46 points in two Alaska road games, scoring a season-high 25 against Alaska Anchorage.

Senior center Lauren Hefflin is averaging 12.8 points, leading the team in both field-goal shooting at 57.2 percent (95-of-166), rebounds (7.9) and blocked shots at 1.3 (24). She is second in steals with 32 (1.8).

Hefflin, who has scored double-figure points 12 times this season, is ranked 17th nationally in field-goal percentage. She ranks among the GNAC top 10 in six categories, being second in rebounds and field-goal shooting, third in offensive rebounds (2.9, 53), fourth in blocks, eighth in steals and 10th in scoring.

Hefflin had a double-double against Central last Saturday with 21 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. It was her fourth double-double of the season.

Senior guard Megan Pinske has an 11.2 scoring average. She leads the GNAC in 3-point shooting (46.4 percent, 26-of-56) and ranks among the league's top 10 in eight categories overall. Pinske is second in minutes played (32.8), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8) and free-throw percentage (85.7, 36-of-42); fourth in assists (4.1), seventh in field-goal accuracy (48.3, 70-of-145) and steals (2.1); and ninth in 3-point makes (1.4, 26).

Western has started the same five all season. Completing that unit are senior forward Gabby Wade, who is averaging 7.1 points and 7.5 rebounds, third in the GNAC; and sophomore guard Corinn Waltrip, who has an 8.0 scoring average and ranks sixth in the league in 3-point makes (1.7). Waltrip scored a career-high 20 points against Central last week.

Junior guard Kristin Schramm, who missed the Central game with an infected blister on her right foot, is averaging 8.6 points off the bench. Two more top reserves, both sophomores, are forward Erika Ramstead (5.6 ppg & 3.3 rpg) and center Britt Harris (4.0 ppg & 3.3 rpg).

The Vikings are allowing just 54.9 points per game on defense. That ranks second in the GNAC. By maintaining that pace, it would be their best since giving up an average of 52.2 points during the 1983-84 campaign and the lowest since the 3-point line was introduced in 1987-88 when they allowed 56.8 in 2005-06.

Western is holding opponents to 37.6 percent (364-of-969) field-goal shooting, second in the GNAC, and is limiting the opposition to a league-best 25.5 percent (64-of-251) 3-point accuracy, the school record being 26.9 percent in 1987-88.

The Vikings have held four opponents under 40 points this season, the most since the 1973-74 campaign when it performed that feat 10 times while allowing just 45.6 points, a school record.

Seattle Pacific is 13-5 overall and 7-3 in GNAC play. The Falcons split a pair of road games last week, losing 68-56 at Alaska Anchorage and winning 93-39 at Alaska Fairbanks.

As a GNAC member, SPU has made nine straight NCAA II post-season appearances (defending West Region champion), five trips to the Elite Eight and won outright or shared seven league titles.

Three starters return for the Falcons. They are 6-2 senior center Melissa Reich (8.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg), the 2010 West Regional MVP; 5-10 senior guard Maddie Maloney (7.1 ppg, 3.0 apg, 2.5 spg) and 5-7 junior guard Jordan Harazin (6.2 ppg).

Two more top returnees for coach Julie (van Beek) Helsey (6th year, 136-31; 15th year overall, 298-150) are 5-8 junior guard Nyesha Sims (10.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg) and 6-0 sophomore forward Caitlyn Rohrbach (10.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg).

A standout newcomer is 6-1 freshman Katie Benson (10.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg), an all-state performer at Snohomish High School.

SPU tops the GNAC in offensive rebounds (41.3), rebounding margin (7.7) and assists (16.1). The Falcons are 7-2 at home this season, suffering back-to-back losses (59-50 to Montana State Billings on Jan. 8 and 54-53 to Saint Martin's on Jan. 20) at Royal Brougham Pavilion after winning 86 of their previous 87 home games, the loss being 78-54 to Western on March 2, 2006.

Western holds a 51-25 series advantage, winning five of 11 meetings over the last five seasons. The Vikings have held SPU to an average of 42.0 points in their last two meetings at Carver Gym, while the Falcons have averaged 77.5 points against Western in their last two games at Royal Brougham Pavilion.

Saint Martin's is 11-7 overall (Feb. 3 host Simon Fraser) and 6-4 in conference play. The Saints have won five of their last six games after a 6-6 start and are 6-2 at home this season.

Leading Saint Martin's is 5-10 senior forward Dara Zack, a second-team Daktronics West Region and GNAC all-star last season who is averaging 15.2 points, second in the conference, and 6.1 rebounds. She has scored 1,349 points, 10th among GNAC career leaders.

Two other starters back from last year's 12-15 squad are 5-6 senior guard Roni Jo Mielke (8.1 ppg) and 6-0 senior center Katie Hawkins (5.1 ppg).

Completing the lineup for coach Tim Healy (15th year, 190-210) are 5-9 junior guard Morelle Moehrle (8.1 ppg), a transfer who played two seasons at Western, and 6-0 senior forward Kellie Snyder (6.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg), who transferred from Southern Utah.

Western holds a 54-10 series advantage following a 63-54 overtime victory at Carver Gym on Jan. 6. The Vikings have won six straight and 25 of the last 26 meetings.

Western Oregon, 7-11 overall (Feb. 5 host Simon Fraser) and 5-5 in league play, has lost five of its last six games following a 6-6 start.

The Wolves, who are 5-3 at home this season, top the GNAC in free throw shooting at 73.8 percent. They are led by 5-11 junior forward Rylee Peterson (13.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.2 spg, 2.4 bpg), a transfer from Clackamas CC, and returnee 5-9 senior guard Sara Zahler (12.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 41.9 3-point pct., 39-of-93; 86.0 free throw pct., 43-of-50).

Another top player back for coach Greg Bruce (5th year, 37-92; 20th season overall, 330-229) is 5-7 sophomore guard Jamie Richardson (7.6 ppg, 2.3 spg).

Western has won the last five meetings, including an 83-67 victory at Carver Gym on Jan. 8, and leads the series, 37-9.

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