ELLENSBURG, Wash (Nov. 22) – The Central Washington University women's basketball team earned their first home win of the season defeating Evergreen State College 74-61 behind 23 points from Courtney Johnson.

The win improves the Wildcats' record to 2-1 on the young season.

After winning the tipoff, the Wildcats opened a quick 5-0 lead over the Geoducks aided by a Courtney Johnson three-point play. Central Washington shot a solid 42% from the field in the first half while holding the Geoducks to just nine made field goals in the period and limiting the visitors to a 29% field-goal percentage (9-31). Johnson scored 12 of her 23 points in the frame and concluded the half with another three-point play that increased the Wildcat lead to 36-25 at the break.

"I thought defensively we were pretty solid," First year head coach Jeff Harada said. "We were pressuring them into some tough shots. Overall I was pretty pleased with our defensive effort. Offensively, we executed what we wanted and got shots we could make. Towards the end we started to hit some of them."

Freshman Jasmin Edwards played a pivotal role in the first half stuffing the stat sheet. The point guard scored nine of her 15 points in the opening half and grabbed three offensive rebounds while totaling six total rebounds for the period. She would finish the night with 15 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.

"She has poise, toughness and that competitive drive," Harada said of his freshman point guard's early success. "She's a kid that believes in herself, and her teammates believe in her, and we as coaches believe in her. It's her willingness to be not just good but great."

A highlight play occurred for the freshman when she out-hustled a Geoduck post player to a loose ball on the baseline. The crafty freshman tiptoed the baseline only to gather herself and find a streaking Johnson on the weak side for an easy layup.

The Geoducks chipped away at the lead throughout the entire second half and closed the gap to single-digits late in the period. The visitors outrebounded the Wildcats 39-36 on the night and grabbed 17 offensive rebounds. The lead was as slim as five after a Geoduck guard snatched an offensive rebound a laid it back with 4:33 remaining.

"Our first half defense was better than the second half," Johnson said.

The Wildcats relied on their stingy defense that forced 10 turnovers. One of those turnovers led to a potential breakaway score. Edwards didn't find what she was looking for and pulled the ball out. She looked to the sidelines and got the play call. By the end of the entire sequence, the Wildcats would end with an open three-point shot from Johnson and three more points.

With the game in the balance, the Wildcat sharpshooter finally started to drain their looks. Hannah Shine hit back-to-back threes. One from the corner then followed she it up on the next possesion with another three-point make from the wing to inflate the lead back to double-digits.

"The team was ready to shoot, they were finding the open gap," Edwards said. "I would kick it to them and they would knock it down."

The Wildcats will see the court again, Nov. 29., at 2 p.m. when they battle Dixie State University after the holiday break.

"I was happy with the way we battled," Harada concluded. "That's a really good, tough, and scrappy team. They made us play a different kind of game than we were used to playing, and I was glad we were able to pull it out."