Box Score

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Dec. 16) -- Sophomore Sophie Russell (Olympia/River Ridge HS) had her first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, but despite a fast second-half start, Central Washington was unable to overcome a 17-point halftime deficit in its 72-60 women's basketball loss to Colorado State University-Pueblo at the Great Western Shootout on Wednesday morning at the Doolittle Community Center.

The loss drops the Wildcats to 2-6 on the season, while CSU-Pueblo improves to 6-2.

After trailing by as many as 23 points late in the first half, Central closed out the opening period on a 6-0 run to make it a 45-28 halftime deficit. The Wildcats then outscored the Thunderwolves 20-7 in the first nine minutes of the second half to close to within four points at 52-48, but CSU-Pueblo made three-pointers on consecutive possessions to push the lead to double figures and Central was never able to complete the comeback as the lead hovered between eight and 12 points the rest of the game.

Central shot the ball fairly consistently throughout the game, making 42.3 percent in the first half and 42.4 percent in the second period. However, Colorado State-Pueblo hit on 50 percent of its shots in the opening stanza and took advantage of 19 first-half turnovers by the Wildcats. After the intermission, CWU matched the Thunderwolves on the boards (19 rebounds apiece) and committed just six turnovers while forcing nine from CSU-Pueblo. The Wildcats finished the game with a 37-33 rebounding edge.

Russell, who played 39 of the 40 possible minutes, played the entire second half and had seven points and six rebounds in the period. For the game, she led all players in rebounding with 10 and was second on the Wildcats with a career-high-tying four assists. Senior Sara Bergner (Bellingham) finished as Central's top scorer with 13 points on 5 of 11 shooting, while junior Colleen Betteridge (Seattle/Chief Sealth HS) had nine points and eight assists. Freshman Stacy Albrecht (Federal Way/Thomas Jefferson HS) had eight points in 20 minutes of reserve action.

CSU-Pueblo had five players in double figure scoring, led by the 15 points of Amanda Bartlett. Caitlyn Jewell and Rachel Espinoza added 14 each for the Thunderwolves, while a fourth starter, Katrina Selsor, had 13 points.

Central Washington will conclude its stay in Las Vegas, as well as the 2009 portion of its schedule, on Thursday morning (Dec. 17) at 11 a.m. versus eighth-ranked Washburn (Kan.). The Wildcats' next home game is Jan. 2, 2010, against Dominican University of California at 2 p.m. at Nicholson Pavilion.