By: Evan O'Kelly, Associate Commissioner for Communications
PORTLAND, Ore. – A record ninth Great Northwest Athletic Conference women’s basketball regular-season title is all but one win away from the grasp of Alaska Anchorage, as the Seawolves enter the week on a seven-game winning streak across the second half of conference play.
UAA (24-3, 15-1 GNAC) has already clinched at least a share of the title and can secure it outright by beating either Western Oregon (8-16, 4-12) on Thursday or Saint Martin’s (14-10, 7-9) on Saturday. It would be the Seawolves’ first conference crown since the 2019-20 campaign, as they look to lock up the No. 1 seed into next week’s GNAC Women’s Basketball Championships tournament.
| This Week's GNAC Women's Basketball Schedule |
| Home Team |
Thursday, Feb. 27 |
Saturday, March 1 |
| #21 Montana State Billings |
Simon Fraser (7 p.m. MT) |
Western Washington (4:15 p.m. MT) |
| Northwest Nazarene |
BYE |
Central Washington (1 p.m. MT) |
| Saint Martin's |
Alaska Fairbanks (5:15 p.m. PT) |
#15 Alaska Anchorage (3 p.m. PT) |
| Seattle Pacific |
Western Washington (7 p.m. PT) |
Simon Fraser (2 p.m. PT) |
| Western Oregon |
#15 Alaska Anchorage (5:15 p.m. PT) |
Alaska Fairbanks (2 p.m. PT) |
Montana State Billings (24-5, 13-3) and Central Washington (20-6, 13-4) are locked into a battle for the No. 2 seed and the second bye into the conference tournament semifinals. The Yellowjackets host Simon Fraser (12-13, 5-11) on Thursday (7 p.m. MT) and Western Washington (16-9, 11-5) on Saturday (4:15 p.m. MT) at Alterowitz Gym, where they have gone 14-1 this season.
The Vikings and Northwest Nazarene (16-10, 10-7) are the other two schools to have clinched spots in the conference tournament. WWU starts its week at Seattle Pacific (8-21, 2-14) on Thursday night (7 p.m. PT) before the big game at the Yellowjackets. NNU will play host to Central Washington on Saturday afternoon (1 p.m. MT) in the teams’ lone game of the week.
Saint Martin’s can secure the sixth and final spot into the conference tournament, which will be played on its home floor, with a win over either Alaska Fairbanks on Thursday (5:15 p.m. PT) or Alaska Anchorage on Saturday (3 p.m. PT). Simon Fraser remains alive in the chase, but would need to knock off both No. 21 MSU Billings and Seattle Pacific and watch Saint Martin’s lose both of its games to enact a tiebreaker scenario with the Saints.
The 2025 GNAC Men’s and Women's Basketball Championships will be held March 6-8 at Marcus Pavilion on the campus of Saint Martin's University in
Lacey, Wash. The top six teams in the GNAC standings at the end of the regular season will advance to the GNAC Championships (tiebreakers will be applied as necessary). The top two seeds earn byes to the semifinal round. The quarterfinal round will match the Nos. 3 and 6 seeds in one game and the Nos. 4 and 5 seeds in the other game. Quarterfinal winners will advance to Friday's semifinals. Semifinal winners will meet on Saturday for the championship. The winners of the GNAC Championships will automatically qualify for their respective NCAA Division II Championships events.
In Wednesday’s NCAA regional rankings, four of the top-10 teams listed were from the GNAC. The rankings will ultimately determine the eight-team field that will compete in the 2025 NCAA West Region Championships, hosted by the No. 1 seed. One more set of rankings will be released on March 5, before the NCAA selection show on March 10.
| Rank |
School |
DII Record |
Conference |
| 1 |
CSU Dominguez Hills |
26-1 |
CCAA |
| 2 |
Cal Poly Pomona |
21-4 |
CCAA |
| 3 |
Alaska Anchorage |
21-3 |
GNAC |
| 4 |
Montana State Billings |
22-5 |
GNAC |
| 5 |
Central Washington |
20-6 |
GNAC |
| 6 |
Point Loma |
21-5 |
PacWest |
| 7 |
Azusa Pacific |
19-5 |
PacWest |
| 8 |
Chico State |
20-6 |
CCAA |
| 9 |
Cal State LA |
16-9 |
CCAA |
| 10 |
Western Washington |
16-9 |
GNAC |
| GNAC Active Leaders – Career Points (as of Feb. 26, 2025) |
| Rank |
Player |
Points |
School |
Career |
| 1 |
Sunny Huerta |
1,870 |
Central Washington |
2021-25 |
| 2 |
Dyauni Boyce |
1,510 |
Montana State Billings |
2020-25 |
| 3 |
Asher Cai |
1,475 |
Central Washington |
2022-25 |
| 4 |
Sophia Wisotzki |
1,459 |
Simon Fraser |
2021-25 |
| 5 |
Aspen Giese |
1,115 |
Montana State Billings |
2021-25 |
| 6 |
Kortney Nelson |
1,088 |
Montana State Billings |
2020-25 |
| 7 |
Jazzpher Evans |
1,022 |
Alaska Anchorage |
2021-25 |
| 8 |
Destiny Reimers |
1,011 |
Alaska Fairbanks |
2021-25 |
| 9 |
Hunter Beirne |
889 |
Seattle Pacific |
2020-25 |
| 10 |
Kiana Rios |
860 |
Saint Martin's |
2022-25 |
Central Washington’s
Sunny Huerta moved up one spot on the GNAC all-time scoring list to No. 4, passing Montana State Billings Hall of Famer Bobbi Knudsen last week. The Wildcat senior, who already owns the school career record, ranks second in the league this season with 19.3 points per game.
| GNAC Women's Basketball All-Time Scoring Leaders (as of Feb. 26, 2025) |
| Rank |
Player |
Points |
School |
Career |
| 1 |
Alisha Breen |
2,001 |
Montana State Billings |
2013-18 |
| 2 |
Erin Chambers |
1,946 |
Simon Fraser |
2011-15 |
| 3 |
Taylor Peacocke |
1,940 |
Western Washington |
2013-17 |
| 4 |
Sunny Huerta |
1,870 |
Central Washington |
2021-25 |
| 5 |
Bobbi Knudsen |
1,831 |
Montana State Billings |
2010-14 |
| 6 |
Jordan Wilson |
1,783 |
Alaska Fairbanks |
2013-17 |
| 7 |
Rebecca Kielpinski |
1,752 |
Alaska Anchorage |
2005-09 |
| 8 |
Rose Shaw |
1,696 |
Central Washington |
1998-02 |
| 9 |
Amanda Dunbar |
1,654 |
Western Washington |
2007-11 |
| 10 |
Katie Benson |
1,645 |
Seattle Pacific |
2010-14 |
UAA’s
Emilia Long broke the GNAC single-season record for steals earlier this season, surpassing former Seawolf Kiki Robertson who had 109 in 2016-17. Averaging 4.4 steals per game in her first season with the Seawolves, Long enters the week leading Division II in that category as well as total steals with 119. She is well on pace to break the GNAC single-season record of 3.62 steals per game, set by NNU’s Alysson Kollmann in 2002-03 and matched by NNU’s Taylor Simmons in 2014-15.
| GNAC Women's Basketball Single-Season Steals Leaders (as of Feb. 26, 2025) |
| Rank |
Player |
Steals |
School |
Season |
| 1 |
Emilia Long |
119 |
Alaska Anchorage |
2024-25 |
| 2 |
Kiki Robertson |
109 |
Alaska Anchorage |
2016-17 |
| 3 |
Kian McNair |
106 |
Alaska Anchorage |
2018-19 |
| 4 |
Alysson Kollmann |
105 |
Northwest Nazarene |
2002-03 |
| 5 |
Kiki Robertson |
100 |
Alaska Anchorage |
2014-15 |
| 6 |
Taylor Simmons |
94 |
Northwest Nazarene |
2014-15 |
| 7 |
Marina Valles |
92 |
Northwest Nazarene |
2019-20 |
| 8 |
Trishi Williams |
90 |
Western Washington |
2012-13 |
|
Kiki Robertson |
90 |
Alaska Anchorage |
2013-14 |
| 10 |
Shantell Marquis |
89 |
Montana State Billings |
2008-09 |
|
Yazmeen Goo |
89 |
Alaska Anchorage |
2017-18 |
MSUB’s
Aspen Giese broke the school single-season record for made 3-pointers last week, and has climbed to No. 5 in GNAC single-season history with a conference-leading 89 makes from distance this season. Entering the week her made 3-pointers total leads Division II basketball and her average of 3.07 made threes per game ranks second in Division II. The GNAC single-season record of 108 made threes was set by Alaska Anchorage’s Jenna Buchanan in 2015-16, the year the Seawolves advanced to the national championship game.
| GNAC Women’s Basketball – Single-Season Made 3-Pointers Leaders (as of Feb. 26, 2025) |
| Rank |
Player |
3-Pointers |
School |
Season |
| 1 |
Jenna Buchanan |
108 |
Alaska Anchorage |
2015-16 |
| 2 |
Elisa Homer |
99 |
Simon Fraser |
2015-16 |
| 3 |
Kizzah Maltezo |
92 |
Central Washington |
2021-22 |
| 4 |
Amanda Dunbar |
91 |
Western Washington |
2009-10 |
| 5 |
Aspen Giese |
89 |
Montana State Billings |
2024-25 |
| 6 |
Taylor Peacocke |
86 |
Western Washington |
2016-17 |
| 7 |
Olivia Vezaldenos |
84 |
Concordia |
2018-19 |
| 8 |
Maria Nilsson |
83 |
Alaska Anchorage |
2007-08 |
| 9 |
Adrienne Taalak |
80 |
Alaska |
2003-04 |
|
Alira Carpenter |
80 |
Montana State Billings |
2007-08 |
|
Asher Cai |
80 |
Central Washington |
2023-24 |
| GNAC in the National & Regional Rankings |
National top-25 rankings are released weekly by both the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (coach poll) and the D2 College Sports Communicators (media poll). The D2CSC also releases weekly regional top-10 rankings. Additional ranking information, including RPI projections, can be found in real time via
Inkblot Sports online here. The official NCAA regional rankings, which will eventually determine the eight-team field for the 2025 NCAA West Region Championships, will be released towards the end of the season beginning in February, 2025.
| WBCA National Top-25 Poll |
| Poll |
Team 1 |
Team 2 |
Team 3 |
| Preseason (10/29) |
6. MSUB |
RV WWU |
|
| Week 1 (11/19) |
5. MSUB |
RV CWU |
|
| Week 2 (11/26) |
3. MSUB |
RV CWU |
|
| Week 3 (12/3) |
3. MSUB |
RV CWU |
|
| Week 4 (12/10) |
3. MSUB |
RV CWU |
RV UAA |
| Week 5 (12/17) |
3. MSUB |
24. CWU |
RV UAA |
| Week 6 (12/31) |
6. MSUB |
RV UAA |
RV CWU |
| Week 7 (1/7) |
5. MSUB |
RV UAA |
|
| Week 8 (1/14) |
6. MSUB |
RV UAA |
|
| Week 9 (1/21) |
20. MSUB |
RV UAA |
|
| Week 10 (1/28) |
20. MSUB |
RV UAA |
|
| Week 11 (2/4) |
18. MSUB |
25. UAA |
|
| Week 12 (2/11) |
16. MSUB |
20. UAA |
|
| Week 13 (2/18) |
16. MSUB |
19. UAA |
|
| Week 14 (2/25) |
15. UAA |
21. MSUB |
|
| D2CSC National Top-25 Poll |
| Poll |
Team 1 |
Team 2 |
| Preseason (11/5) |
10. WWU |
20. MSUB |
| Week 1 (11/12) |
19. MSUB |
|
| Week 2 (11/19) |
15. MSUB |
|
| Week 3 (11/26) |
T10. MSUB |
|
| Week 4 (12/3) |
16. MSUB |
|
| Week 5 (12/10) |
12. MSUB |
|
| Week 6 (12/17) |
9. MSUB |
|
| Week 7 (1/7) |
9. MSUB |
|
| Week 8 (1/14) |
9. MSUB |
RV UAA |
| Week 9 (1/21) |
24. UAA |
RV MSUB |
| Week 10 (1/28) |
RV MSUB |
RV UAA |
| Week 11 (2/4) |
25. UAA |
RV MSUB |
| Week 12 (2/11) |
16. UAA |
25. MSUB |
| Week 13 (2/18) |
16. UAA |
23. MSUB |
| Week 14 (2/25) |
15. UAA |
T25. MSUB |
| D2CSC West Region Rankings |
| Poll |
Team 1 |
Team 2 |
Team 3 |
Team 4 |
Team 5 |
| Preseason (11/4) |
1. WWU |
3. MSUB |
7. UAA |
9. CWU |
|
| Week 1 (11/11) |
2. MSUB |
6. UAA |
T7. WWU |
T9. CWU |
RV SFU |
| Week 2 (11/18) |
2. MSUB |
6. CWU |
8. UAA |
9. SFU |
T10. WWU |
| Week 3 (11/25) |
1. MSUB |
6. UAA |
7. CWU |
8. SFU |
RV WWU |
| Week 4 (12/2) |
2. MSUB |
6. UAA |
7. CWU |
RV SFU |
RV SMU |
| Week 5 (12/9) |
2. MSUB |
6. UAA |
7. CWU |
10. SFU |
RV WWU |
| Week 6 (12/16) |
1. MSUB |
6. UAA |
7. CWU |
10. SFU |
|
| Week 7 (1/6) |
2. MSUB |
5. UAA |
8. CWU |
T10. SFU |
RV WWU |
| Week 8 (1/13) |
2. MSUB |
5. UAA |
8. CWU |
10. WWU |
RV NNU |
| Week 9 (1/20) |
4. UAA |
5. MSUB |
8. CWU |
10. NNU |
RV WWU |
| Week 10 (1/27) |
4. MSUB |
5. UAA |
6. CWU |
RV NNU |
|
| Week 11 (2/3) |
4. UAA |
5. MSUB |
8. CWU |
T10. WWU |
RV NNU |
| Week 12 (2/10) |
T2. UAA |
4. MSUB |
8. CWU |
10. WWU |
|
| Week 13 (2/17) |
2. UAA |
T3. MSUB |
T8. CWU |
RV WWU |
|
| Date |
Player of the Week |
School |
| 11/4 |
Emilia Long |
Alaska Anchorage |
| 11/11 |
Sunny Huerta |
Central Washington |
| 11/18 |
Aspen Giese |
Montana State Billings |
| 11/25 |
Jada Travis |
Saint Martin's |
| 12/2 |
Alyson Deaver |
Western Washington |
| 12/9 |
Emilia Long |
Alaska Anchorage |
| 12/16 |
Aspen Giese |
Montana State Billings |
| 12/23 |
Dyauni Boyce |
Montana State Billings |
| 1/6 |
Olivia Wikstrom |
Western Washington |
| 1/13 |
Asher Cai |
Central Washington |
| 1/20 |
Tori Hollingshead |
Alaska Anchorage |
| 1/27 |
Sunny Huerta |
Central Washington |
| 2/3 |
Demi Dykstra |
Western Washington |
| 2/10 |
Capri Sims |
Central Washington |
| 2/17 |
Dyauni Boyce |
Montana State Billings |
| 2/24 |
Tori Hollingshead |
Alaska Anchorage |
Feb. 24 GNAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week
Tori Hollingshead – University of Alaska Anchorage
Third-career player of the week, second this season.
Hollingshead put up big numbers last week, helping the Seawolves secure at least a share of the 2024-25 GNAC regular-season title. The senior forward kicked things off with a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double in UAA’s 87-64 victory over reigning GNAC champion Montana State Billings on Thursday. She made 6 of 10 shots and added three steals, two assists and a block in 29 efficient minutes. She followed with her best statistical game of the year, with season-highs of 26 points and 15 rebounds in a runaway 99-51 win over Seattle Pacific on Saturday. Hollingshead made 10 of 19 field goals and was dominant on the glass with 10 of her rebounds coming on the offensive end. On the season the second-year Seawolf is averaging 13.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
UAA Head Coach Ryan McCarthy: “Tori has continued to get better and better this season. She has been a difference-maker for us on both ends of the floor and her consistency has been a big key. I think what makes her different is her decision making out of the post position and her ability to recognize double teams or find advantages. I’m so proud of her progress throughout this year.”
Also Nominated: Destiny Reimers, Alaska Fairbanks; Sunny Huerta, Central Washington; Aspen Giese, Montana State Billings; Madeline Gebers, Northwest Nazarene; Jada Travis, Saint Martin’s; Sophia Wisotzki, Simon Fraser; Maddy Grandbois, Western Washington.
| 2024-25 All-Tournament Selections |
D2CCA Tipoff Classic at the Trailhead
Nov. 1-3 at Billings, Mont. (Montana State Billings, Host)
MSU Billings: Dyauni Boyce; Aspen Giese
D2CCA Canadian Tipoff Classic
Nov. 1-3 at Langley, B.C. (Simon Fraser, Host)
Simon Fraser: Sophia Wisotzki
Seattle Pacific: Layne Kearns
Mt. McKinley Banks North Star Invitational
Nov. 15-16 at Fairbanks, Alaska (Alaska Fairbanks, Host
Alaska Fairbanks: Kayla Johnson; Taylor Pilot
Western Oregon: Natalie Brown
Yellowjacket Classic
Nov. 21-22 at Billings, Mont. (MSU Billings, Host)
MSU Billings: Dyauni Boyce; Kortney Nelson
| 2024-25 GNAC Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team |
| Preseason Player of the Year: Sunny Huerta, Central Washington University |
| Name |
School |
Position |
Height |
Year |
Hometown |
Previous School |
| Tori Hollingshead |
Alaska Anchorage |
Forward/Center |
6-3 |
Senior |
Orem, Utah |
Umpqua CC |
| Sunny Huerta |
Central Washington |
Guard |
5-4 |
Senior |
Whittier, Calif. |
Saint Paul |
| Asher Cai |
Central Washington |
Guard |
5-9 |
Junior |
Colfax, Wash. |
Colfax |
| Capri Sims |
Central Washington |
Forward |
6-0 |
Sophomore |
Post Falls, Idaho |
Post Falls |
| Dyauni Boyce |
Montana State Billings |
Forward |
5-11 |
Senior |
Winifred, Mont. |
Winifred |
| Aspen Giese |
Montana State Billings |
Guard |
5-8 |
Senior |
Fort Benton, Mont. |
Fort Benton |
| Kortney Nelson |
Montana State Billings |
Guard |
5-8 |
Senior |
Scobey, Mont. |
Scobey |
| Kendall Clark |
Northwest Nazarene |
Guard/Forward |
5-10 |
Sophomore |
Melba, Idaho |
Melba |
| Madeline Gebers |
Northwest Nazarene |
Guard/Forward |
6-0 |
Senior |
Kennewick, Wash. |
Spokane Falls CC |
| Sarah Lamet |
Saint Martin's |
Forward |
6-4 |
Junior |
Tigard, Ore. |
Tigard |
| Hunter Beirne |
Seattle Pacific |
Guard |
5-7 |
Senior |
Mukilteo, Wash. |
Kamiak |
| Schuyler Berry |
Seattle Pacific |
Center |
6-3 |
Senior |
Portland, Ore. |
Grant |
| Sophia Wisotzki |
Simon Fraser |
Guard |
5-10 |
Senior |
Langley, B.C. |
Walnut Grove Secondary |
| Mason Oberg |
Western Washington |
Guard |
5-5 |
Junior |
Vancouver, Wash. |
Union |
| Olivia Wikstrom |
Western Washington |
Guard |
6-1 |
Senior |
Bainbridge Island, Wash. |
Bainbridge |