Box Score

MONMOUTH, Ore. (Dec. 4) -- Central Washington University junior Sophie Russell (Olympia/River Ridge HS) scored all 19 of her points in the second half, and the Wildcat women's basketball team nearly rallied all the way back from a 20-point halftime deficit before falling, 71-67, to host Western Oregon University on Saturday afternoon.

The Wildcats suffered their second straight road loss to fall to 3-2 on the season and 0-2 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Western Oregon improved to 3-4 overall and 2-0 in the GNAC.

Russell finished the game with a team-high 19 after going scoreless on six shot attempts in the first half as CWU trailed 48-28 at the intermission.

The Wildcats actually scored eight of the game's first 10 points, but Western Oregon scored the next seven counters to take the lead, and the Wolves' advantage eventually reached double figures for the first time at the 6:23 mark of the first half. After Central closed to within five, WOU went on a 19-4 run over the final 5:22 before halftime, including a 10-0 spurt over the final 2:41 that gave the Wolves their 20-point edge.

Central stormed out of the gates in the second half, however, going on a 20-7 run over the first 7:50 to make it a seven-point game. The Wildcats hung around the rest of the way, and actually cut their deficit to two points in the final minute after a 9-0 run that was highlighted by three three-pointers by Russell. However, after the two-point margin with 34 seconds remaining, Western Oregon's Sara Zahler made two free throws on the Wolves' next possession and CWU was unable to score on either of its two shots on the final possession and time expired.

Aside from a major disparity in shooting percentages, where Central Washington made just 35.6 percent compared to Western Oregon's 56.3 percent efficiency, the Wildcats held an advantage in rebounding (41-32) and turnovers (25-21). CWU also made eight of its 10 free throws in the game, but was outscored by two at the charity stripe as WOU made 10 of 19.

Russell, who finished the game 7 for 22 from the field, led four Wildcat players in double figures, as three teammates scored 12 points apiece. Freshman Amber Moser (Willamina, Ore./Sheridan HS), playing her first collegiate game in her home state, finished with her first career double-double of 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds and was the only CWU player to shoot better than 50 percent (5 of 8) in the game. Sophomore center Stacy Albrecht (Federal Way/Thomas Jefferson HS) logged all but eight seconds of play in Saturday's game and scored 12 with five rebounds, while junior guard Nneka Payne (Auburn) also totaled 12 counters -- 10 of which came in the first half.

Western Oregon was led by the scoring of Sara Zahler and Rylee Peterson with 24 and 14 points, respectively. Zahler made five of six three-point attempts as the Wolves were 7 for 11 (63.6 percent) from behind the arc.

Central Washington will now take another extended break from games, this time for final exams. The Wildcats return to action on Dec. 16 with the first of two games at the Great Western Shootout in Las Vegas, Nev. CWU faces Saint Mary's (Texas) and Saint Joseph's (Ind.) at the tournament before breaking for the holidays.