1/29/26

Saint Martin’s Saints 56, Western Washington Vikings 48

(Lacey, WA) The Saint Martin’s Saints Women’s Basketball team was looking for revenge after losing to Western Washington on the road earlier in the month. The Vikings have had the Saints’ number, winning 11 in a row against Saint Martin’s. With Western Washington one game ahead of Saint Martin’s in the GNAC standings and in second place, it was a pivotal game as fans poured into Marcus Pavilion on Pack The Pav night.

In the first quarter, Saints history was made as Kiana Rios reached 1,000 career points just two minutes into the game with a short shot. Rios had nine points in the quarter and outscored Western Washington in the first 10 minutes as Saint Martin’s jumped out to a 13-6 lead. In the second quarter, Western Washington pulled to within one point twice, but the Saints had the answer both times with timely baskets and took a 25-18 lead into the halftime break. The Saints took a double-digit lead with two three-pointers from sharpshooter Laiken Hill. Despite the Saints holding a double-digit lead for the majority of the third, the two teams both had 14 points, and Saint Martin’s led 39-32 going into the fourth quarter. Saint Martin’s kept Western Washington at an arm’s length for the fourth, with the Vikings only getting within five points. Saint Martin’s went 12-16 from the free throw line and outscored the Vikings 17-16 in the fourth to pull away for a 56-48 victory.

On her historic night, Kiana Rios led the Saints with 18 points, six rebounds, and nailed key free throws late to secure the win. Laiken Hill had 15 points and went 4-8 from three-point land, while adding five rebounds. Jada Travis had 10 points, all in the second half, and six assists, while also going 5-6 from the free throw line. For only the sixth time this season, the Saints outscored their opponent in the fourth quarter. Saint Martin’s went 16-22 as a team from the free-throw line, where the Vikings were only 8-16. Saint Martin’s also held Western Washington to shoot 30% from the floor, where the Vikings shot 61% in their first meeting.

Saint Martin’s is now 11-8 overall and 7-3 in the GNAC and in a tie for second with Western Washington and Northwest Nazarene. The Saints host Simon Fraser on Saturday as the Saints look to win their seventh straight home game.

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