Both Western basketball teams featured on FSN

The last two Wednesday nights both Western's men's and women's basketball games have been broadcast on Fox Sports Northwest. The result was a split for Western with the men falling to Seattle Pacific University and the women beating SPU. Here is a recap of both pivotal mid-season games.

Men's game vs. SPU Jan. 26 @ Seattle- Going into the game both Western and Seattle Pacific were tied for third place in the GNAC. The pressure of a regional broadcast certainly added to the intensity of the game.
The Vikings controlled the first half leading 36-31 going into the break. Sophomore guard John Allen scored all but one of his field goal attempts and led the Vikings with 17 points. Fortunes changed for Allen and the rest of the Vikings in the second half.
Allen, a transfer from Washington State, could not buy a bucket in the second half, missing all six shot attempts. Western shot just 33% in the second half while momentum switched towards SPU.
The Falcons capitalized on the cold shooting from the Vikings and found their twin towers in the post. Center Andy Poling paced SPU with 20 points and  9 rebounds, while Modou Niang was critical in the latter stages of the game with two blocks and six points via slam dunks.
Down the stretch SPU outscored the Vikings 24-12 in the last 10 minutes and grinded out a 69-61 victory on the road. The win was the 1,000 in SPU history and secured third place while the Vikings dropped their third straight game.
Since the loss on FSN, the Vikings have rebounded with three straight wins, against Simon Frasier, Western Oregon and Saint Martins on Saturday night. After a couple conference games in Alaska, the Vikings return home for the biggest test of the season, a battle with conference leading rival Central Washington on FSN. The stakes for that game will be huge, as Western makes the push for the playoffs.
http://wwuvikings.cstv.com/

Women's game vs. SPU Feb. 2 @ Bellingham- Western continued their winning streak and dominance in the GNAC with a 67-57 victory against SPU, their 13th straight win and 21st consecutive home win. The win improved the Vikings record to 18-1, who are ranked seventh in the country in the ESPN Division-II Top 25 poll. Their only loss came back in December against Chico State during a tournament in California and that game went to overtime.
With just a three point lead at halftime, two quick jumpers from Megan Pinske and a couple assists led the Vikings to a quick 10-3 run that put the game out of reach early in the second half. Pinske finished with 12 points and six assists. Western's leading scorer Amanda Dunbar scored 13 (her season average) and both Lauren Hefflin and Corinn Waltrip scored 15 points each to lead the Vikings.
With seven games remaining before conference tournament, the Vikings have all put locked up first place as they aim for their best season in program history.
http://wwuvikings.cstv.com/