Box Score
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Dec. 17) -- The frontcourt duo of senior
Sara Bergner (Bellingham) and sophomore
Sophie Russell (Olympia/River Ridge HS) scored 16 points apiece, but the rest of the Central Washington women's basketball team combined for just 12 points in a 76-44 loss to eighth-ranked Washburn (Kan.) on Thursday at the Great Western Shootout in Las Vegas.
The Wildcats ended the tournament with an 0-2 record and fell to 2-7 on the season. Washburn remained undefeated on the year at 9-0.
Although they never led in Thursday's contest, the Wildcats started the game off strong offensively by shooting 52.6 percent in the first half, matching their most efficient shooting period of the season. However, the Lady Blues hit on 6 of 12 three-pointers in the first half and doubled the Wildcats at the free throw line in building a 14-point edge (40-26) at the break.
Central's offensive start cooled in the second half. Russell, who had made 5 of 6 shots in the first half, was just 2 of 8 from the floor after halftime. Bergner, who had 10 of her 16 points in the second half, accounted for half of the Wildcats' made field goals in the final stanza. Central was just 8 of 23 from the floor (34.8 percent) in the second half and finished the game shooting 42.9 percent.
Russell (7 of 14) and Bergner (6 of 12) both hit on half of their shot attempts in Thursday's contest, but no other Wildcat had more than four field-goal attempts in the game. Just four other players scored for Central.
Washburn, which competes in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), had all 15 roster players appear in the game. Twelve of the Lady Blues scored at least one point, led by starting center Dayna Rodriguez with a game-high 19 points. Hope Gregory added 11 points and tied for game-high honors with seven rebounds as Washburn outrebounded Central by a 38-21 margin.
Central will take some time off for the holidays before returning to action on Jan. 2, 2010, at 2 p.m. versus Division II newcomer Dominican University of California at Nicholson Pavilion. The Wildcats will then open their 16-game Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule on Jan. 7.
