Center Kayla Bernsen came off the bench to score a game and career-high 25 points as nationally ranked Western Washington University defeated Western Oregon University, 78-54, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball contest Saturday, March 2, in Monmouth, Ore.

The Vikings, ranked No. 7 in this week's top 25 poll and No. 1 in the West Region rating, finished their regular season 23-3 with a sixth straight win. They won the conference regular-season crown with a 17-1 record and earned the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye at the GNAC Tournament, which takes place next week at Lacey.

Western Oregon fell to 8-20 overall and 3-15 in the GNAC with its sixth straight loss and the 16th in the last 19 contests. Melissa Fowler led the Wolves with 15 points on 7-of-11 field-goal shooting.

The Vikings took control quickly, jumping to an 11-0 lead. Katie Colard, who finished with 16 points on 5-of-5 field-goal shooting, all 3-pointers, had seven in the charge. WWU held a 41-24 advantage at halftime, and led by as much as 29 points in the second half.

Bernsen, who also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and blocked four shots, hit her first 10 shots from the field before missing two shots in the final four minutes.

As a team, the Vikings shot 50.9 percent (28 of 55) from the field, and held WOU to 33.3 percent (19 of 57). WWU shot a season-best 75.0 percent on 3-pointers, going 9 of 12.

It was WWU's 21st straight win in the series, upping its overall advantage to 42-9.

WESTERN WASHINGTON 78, WESTERN OREGON 54

WESTERN WASHINGTON (23-3, 17-1 GNAC)

Bernsen,Kayla 25; Colard,Katie 16; Waltrip,Corinn 8; Donaldson,Sydney 8; White,Jenni 7; Williams,Trishi 6; Hill,Sarah 5; Harris,Britt 2; Hathaway,Aleisha 1; Pounds,Marcel 0; Benner,Brandi 0. Totals 28-55 13-18 78.

WESTERN OREGON (8-10, 3-15 GNAC)

Fowler,Melissa 15; Goularte,Dana 11; Goddard,Katie 11; Clifford,Lorrie 9; Durian,Mariah 8; Reade,Amber 0; Henry,Kelsey 0; Rodriguez,Whitney 0; Divilbiss,Chantel 0. Totals 19-57 12-15 54.

Half: WWU 41, WOU 24

3-point goals--Western Washington 9-12 (Colard,Katie 5), Western Oregon 4-14 (Durian,Mariah 2). Fouled out-Western Washington-None, Western Oregon-None. Rebounds--Western Washington 37 (Bernsen,Kayla 9), Western Oregon 31 (Durian,Mariah 5; Rodriguez,Whitney 5). Assists--Western Washington 20 (Williams,Trishi 6), Western Oregon 8 (Clifford,Lorrie 4). Total fouls--Western Washington 14, Western Oregon 14. Technical fouls--Western Washington-None, Western Oregon-None. A-247