CENTRAL WASHINGTON TAKES DOWN GNAC-LEADING SEATTLE PACIFIC, 80-70
Wildcats Defeat Falcons for First Time Since 2002

ELLENSBURG - Four Central Washington University players scored in double figures, including a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds from senior Laura Wright (Longview/Mark Morris HS) as the Wildcats earned an 80-70 victory over visiting Seattle Pacific in Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball action on Saturday night at Nicholson Pavilion.

The Wildcats improved to 14-7 overall and 4-6 in GNAC play with the win. The victory also snapped a four-game losing streak this season and was the first over Seattle Pacific since Jan. 26, 2002, to end a 10-game skid against the Falcons. SPU holds onto first place in the GNAC but falls to 15-6 overall (8-2 GNAC).

Wright made 7 of 8 field goal attempts and also rejected five shots to lead the Wildcats. Front court teammate Brandie Bounds (Zillah) also scored 19 points and added seven boards, helping Central Washington post a convincing 41-26 rebounding advantage. Senior Elyse Mengarelli (Yakima/East Valley HS) added 15 points, making 10 of 11 at the free throw line.

The Wildcats fell behind 7-0 to start the game, and they trailed until the 8:13 mark when Bounds made a pair of free throws to give Central its first advantage at 18-17. Seattle Pacific regained the lead and then went in front by six at 24-18, but a 13-4 run to close out the half gave CWU a 31-28 edge at the intermission.

Central Washington pushed its advantage to eight within the first 90 seconds of the second half, taking its largest lead of the night at the 18:30 mark. Seattle Pacific got to within one point on a pair of occasions midway through the second half, but the Wildcats responded each time the Falcons rallied. Central kept the margin at four points or more for the final 6:10 of the contest, and finished off SPU in the final minute by making six of eight free throws.

Mengarelli led the Wildcats' free throw shooting attack, extending her streak of consecutive makes at the stripe to 27 before a miss with 28 seconds left. Overall, Central outshot the conference's top foul shooting team at the stripe, making 25 of 29 (86.2 percent) including 22 of 25 in the second half. Seattle Pacific made just 13 of 20 at the line, all in the second half, for 65 percent.

Junior Hanna Hull (Pateros) was the other Central Washington player in double figures, totaling 13 points and six rebounds.

Seattle Pacific, which fell to 2-4 in away games this season and 4-5 overall in games away from the SPU campus, also had four players in double figures. Senior Autumn Fielding scored 14, while sophomore Kelsey Hill chipped in with 12 points and nine rebounds inside. Jackie Hollands and Jessie Christensen each finished with 11, with nine of Christensen's 11 coming at the free throw line.

Central Washington will now hit the road for consecutive games in Alaska next weekend. The Wildcats face the Alaska Nanooks in Fairbanks on Thursday (Feb. 15) before visiting Alaska Anchorage on Saturday (Feb. 17). CWU next plays at home on Feb. 22, taking on Saint Martin's.

Box Score