Box Score: Northwest Nazarene 103, Chaminade 50
Box Score: CWU 78, Dominican (CA) 61

ELLENSBURG (Nov. 20) -- Three Central Washington University players scored in double figures, including senior Luv Rattler (Riverside, Calif./Kentlake HS) with career-highs of 15 points and eight assists, as the Wildcats improved to 3-0 with a 78-61 win over visiting Dominican University of California on Saturday evening at Nicholson Pavilion.

The Wildcats and Northwest Nazarene University each finished the two-game Wildcat Classic tournament with 2-0 records. NNU routed Chaminade, 103-50, in the first game of the day on Saturday.

Central started the game off at a feverish pace, outscoring the Penguins (0-4) by a 19-3 count over the first 5:08. However, three Wildcat starters quickly found themselves in foul trouble with two apiece, helping to allow Dominican to get back into the game. Central's largest first-half lead of 22-5 was whittled to one point after the Penguins went on a 25-9 run over a 10 1/2-minute span.

"We started off very fast," CWU head coach Jeff Whitney admitted, "but got three starters into quick fouls. We had to turn to our bench, and it took us awhile to adjust after that."

The Wildcats did adjust after seeing their lead threatened. They held Dominican scoreless over the final 4:03 of the first half, scoring the final 12 points of the period to build a 43-30 halftime edge.

Rattler, who had 11 points and five assists in the first half alone, helped the Wildcats shoot 50 percent in the period -- their first half of the season in which they shot with that efficiency or better.

"Luv had a good overall game," Whitney said. "She got the penetration we needed to get the ball to the shooters, and her penetration also helped get (Dominican) into some foul trouble."

The two teams traded baskets early in the second half before Central pushed its lead to 24 points on a pair of occasions. Dominican made the final margin closer than the game might have indicated, scoring nine of the final 11 points over the last 2:41.

"We moved the ball very well and got the ball to places we needed to,” Whitney added. "Our job (with a big lead) was to work on clock management, and that is something we have been practicing."

For the first time this season, Central outrebounded its opponent with a 45-34 edge on the glass over the Penguins. However, the Wildcats committed a season-high 23 turnovers while forcing just 17. Freshman Amber Moser (Willamina, Ore./Sheridan HS) led the rebounding efforts with a career-high 10 caroms off the bench, while starters Stacy Albrecht (Federal Way/Thomas Jefferson HS) and Sophie Russell (Olympia/River Ridge HS) had seven boards apiece.

In addition to Rattler's team-high scoring total, redshirt freshman Kelsi Jacobson (Spokane/University HS) drained four three-pointers in five attempts to accumulate a career-high 12 points. Albrecht added 10, and four other Wildcat players had at least seven counters in the winning effort.

"Kelsi hit some big threes to put the game out of reach," Whitney remarked about his redshirt freshman. "Those dagger three-pointers helped us make a run. She is a great shooter, and her teammates did a good job getting her the basketball tonight."

Dominican was led by the all-around effort of Kelsey Janusch, who had a game-high 21 points while adding five rebounds, six assists, and four steals. She was the lone Penguin to reach double figures in the scoring column.

Central Washington, which is off to its first 3-0 start in three seasons, will have the Thanksgiving weekend off from games. The Wildcats will return to action when they open Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on Dec. 2 at Saint Martin's University in Lacey.