Box Score

SEATTLE (Dec. 30) -- Freshman Amber Moser (Willamina, Ore./Sheridan HS) had career-highs of 15 points and 12 rebounds, but the Central Washington University women's basketball team shot a season-low 29 percent from the floor in falling to Notre Dame de Namur University, 67-55, in the final game of the Falcons Invitational at Brougham Pavilion.

The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for the Wildcats, who are now 5-4 on the season. Notre Dame de Namur improved to 3-6 on the season.

The Wildcats led just once in the first half -- a 3-2 edge at the 18:51 mark -- and fell behind by a 17-6 count just four minutes later. Notre Dame de Namur kept the lead near double digits until a 6-0 CWU run on three consecutive lay-ups over a 59-second span cut Central's deficit to four. The Wildcats crept to within two at 30-28 but trailed 35-31 at halftime.

In the second stanza, the Wildcats forced the game's first ties twice in the first 3 1/2 minutes of play and took the lead at 45-43 with 12:21 remaining. That lead was short-lived, however, as the Argonauts regained the lead at the 11:10 mark and used an 8-0 run to push the advantage back to eight. Central never got closer than a six-point deficit over the final six minutes, scoring just 10 points in the final 12:21.

Moser had a strong offensive start to the game, making 5 of 6 from the field in the first half before finishing 7 for 13. She had nine of her 12 rebounds in the second half, when the Wildcats totaled 16 offensive rebounds and held a 28-24 edge on the glass. Junior teammate Sophie Russell (Olympia/River Ridge HS), Central's top returning scorer from a year ago and its second-leading scorer this season, also finished with 15 points on 6 of 11 shooting. She made 3 of 6 from three-point range.

Notre Dame de Namur, which became the first Pacific West Conference school to defeat the Wildcats in 18 all-time women's basketball meetings between CWU and the league's nine members, was led by four players in double figures. Laura Zasly scored 15, while twin sister Katie Zasly added 14. Emily Vore scored 11 and Natellie Saia finished with 10 for the Argonauts.

Central Washington will enter the 2011 calendar year with its non-conference schedule completed. The Wildcats host rival Western Washington on Monday (Jan. 3) at 7 p.m. as they return to Great Northwest Athletic Conference play for their final 16 regular-season contests.