Center Kayla Bernsen scored 10 of her game-high 16 points in the first half, helping Western Washington University jump to an early lead and defeat University of Alaska Fairbanks 87-59 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball contest Saturday, Jan. 5, at Patty Center on UAF's campus.

The Vikings, ranked No. 20 in the latest USA Today Sports/ESPN NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, improved to 10-2 overall and 4-0 in the GNAC with their fourth straight win. Forward Sarah Hill had 14 points for WWU.

The triumph gave WWU its second Alaska sweep in three years, as it defeated defending GNAC champion Alaska Anchorage 70-60 on Thursday.

The Vikings got off to a quick start, jumping out to an 18-4 lead just 5:21 into the contest. Bernsen, who didn't start the game, had four points and two assists in the burst. The Nanooks ran off eight straight points to narrow the margin to six, 18-12, but WWU pulled away after that and held a 46-28 lead at halftime.

Western's lead was never less than 14 in the second half.

WWU returns home to host Simon Fraser at 5:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, in a GNAC counter at Sam Carver Gymnasium.

WESTERN WASHINGTON 87, ALASKA 59

WESTERN WASHINGTON (10-2, 4-0 GNAC)

Bernsen, Kayla 7-17 2-2 16; Hill, Sarah 5-12 4-4 14; Williams, Trishi 4-6 5-6 13; Benner, Brandi 3-3 0-0 9; Colard, Katie 2-6 0-0 6; Harris, Britt 2-4 2-2 6; Pounds, Marcel 2-4 2-2 6; White, Jenni 2-4 0-0 5; Waltrip, Corinn 1-7 2-2 5; Donaldson, Sydney 2-5 0-0 4; Hathaway, Aleisha 0-2 3-4 3. Totals 30-70 20-22 87.

ALASKA FAIRBANKS (2-9, 0-3 GNAC)

Lovato, Jacqueline 4-10 2-2 14; Logue, Kelly 4-10 5-6 13; Altenburg, Taylor 3-9 3-5 9; Atoruk, Marissa 2-5 0-0 6; O'Neal, Ruth 3-6 0-0 6; Fultz, April 2-6 0-0 4; Bulaya, Benissa 2-8 0-4 4; Lewis, Destini 1-3 0-0 3; Bartleson, Jacqueline 0-2 0-0 0; Thornton, Samantha 0-1 0-0 0; Newman, Janessa 0-0 0-0 0; Kirk, Brianna 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-61 10-17 59.

Half: WWU 46, UAF 28

3-point goals--Western Washington 7-15 (Benner,Brandi 3-3; Colard,Katie 2-6; Waltrip,Corinn 1-2; White,Jenni 1-3; Pounds,Marcel 0-1), Alaska 7-20 (Lovato,Jacqueline 4-10; Atoruk,Marissa 2-4; Lewis,Destini 1-3; Bartleson,Jacqueline 0-1; Logue,Kelly 0-2). Fouled out-Western Washington-None, Alaska-None. Rebounds--Western Washington 48 (Hill,Sarah 9; Bernsen,Kayla 9), Alaska 36 (Lovato,Jacqueline 9). Assists-Western Washington 20 (Williams,Trishi 5), Alaska 10 (Logue,Kelly 5). Total fouls--Western Washington 14, Alaska 18. Technical fouls-Western Washington-None, Alaska-None. A-171