FAIRBANKS, Alaska  Mountaineer women's basketball heads north, way north for the weekend, playing a pair of non-conference games at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, taking on the host Nanooks Friday night followed by a matchup against Western Oregon University on Saturday.

WESTERN COLORADO HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | 2024-25 Stats

• The Mountaineers opened their season on the road with a pair of tough opponents, falling to No. 2 – and last year's national runner-up – Texas Women's University and then dropping a narrow, three-point decision to Angelo State (Texas) University. Western looks to add marks in the win column, though, with the trip to Alaska.
• The team is led in scoring so far by Natalie Jojola's 10.5 points per game. Just behind her is Ivey Schmidt at 10.0 PPG, Rachel Cockman at 9.0 PPG and Brooklyn Seymour at 8.0.
• Cockman and Seymour are the team's top rebounders through two games. Cockman averaged 7.5 rebounds per game while Seymour is averaging 7.0 per outing.
• Schmidt has dished out seven assists so far, while Seymour leads the defense in steals with five.
• The Mountaineers defeated Fairbanks the last time the two met, a 49-41 Western victory in 2017. The Nanooks, however, won the first two meetings, 72-55 in 2016 and 68-58 in 2011.
• The matchup between Western Colorado and the Wolves of Western Oregon will be the first for the programs.

ALASKA-FAIRBANKS HEADING INTO THE GAME | 2024-25 Stats

• The Nanooks have gotten off to a fast start, winning both of its games to start the season at 2-0. That's already halfway to last season's win total at they posted a 4-23 record overall and a 3-15 mark within the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC).
• Fairbanks average 74.5 points per game in beginning the season with two wins, and enter the game against the Mountaineers with a plus-13 point scoring margin.
• The Nanooks have three players averaging double digits in scoring so far, led by Destiny Reimers' 18.0 PPG. She's getting help in the scoring end from Kayla Johnson (13.0 PPG) and Taylor Pilot (10.0).
• Reimers has also been the team's top rebounder, pulling down 16 for an average of 8.0 per game. And like with scoring averages, Johnson is next off the glass with 12 boards for a 6.0 RPG mark.

WESTERN OREGON HEADING INTO THE GAME | 2024-25 Stats

• The Wolves won their opening game of the season, 81-77 over Multnomah, and will play Corban (Ore.) University on Friday before taking on the Mountaineers on Saturday.
• The win to start the schedule is a good sign as they team forfeited its final six games of the 2023-24 season, pushing the Wolves' final record to 10-13 overall and 3-15 in the GNAC.
• Bella Pedrojetti led WOU in the win over Multnomah, scoring more than 40 percent of the team's points with a 34-point effort.
• Teammate Natalie Brown hit the double-double in the victory, scoring 18 points and ripping down 17 rebounds.

UP NEXT

• The Mountaineers take to the road one more time before their home opener, traveling to Durango, Colo., for a neutral-site game on Nov. 22 against Northern New Mexico University.
• Western's home opener on Nov. 25 is against St. Edwards (Texas) University at 6 p.m. in Paul Wright Gym.