Women's Basketball | 12/10/2014 2:11:00 PM

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Dec.10) The 5-2 Central Washington University women's basketball team returns to action this week after sweeping its first two Great Northwest Athletic Conference games, as they host Concordia University (Ore.) this Saturday night at 7 p.m.
 
The Wildcats, who are 2-0 in conference for the first time in nine seasons, start a three -game non-conference schedule, their last such games of the season.
 
The Wildcat defense has been a focal point of Head Coach Jeff Harada, holding opposing offenses to just 58.4 points per game which is second best in the conference and 38^th in the nation.
 
"Our defensive effort has been a big reason for our success so far this season.  There is a sense of pride both individually and as a team to guard people and not necessarily steals, but force our opponents into tough shots," Harada said about his team's defense this season.  "Our help side rotations have been great and if we continue to play with this type of intensity and passion on that end of the court we will have a chance to win a lot of games."
 
Courtney Johnson still leads the team in scoring and is third best in the conference at 16.9 points per game.  Johnson is getting help from Hannah Shine who has been red-hot averaging 14 points a game in her last three contests and is shooting 50-percent form the field including 60-percent from behind the arc, a mark that is second-best in the country.
 
"Hannah is in a zone right now shooting the basketball and its really not surprising to us because we see her do it everyday in practice," Harada said about the senior.  "We are so happy that she has been able to carry over her success in practice into the games."
 
 
Concordia, a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), stands with a 7-1 record so far this season and have defeat two NAIA top 25 ranked opponents.  They are led by the duo of Lexi Campbell and Sierra Dean who are scoring 13.8 and 13.3 points per game respectively.  As a team the Cavaliers are shooting 41.3 percent and average 8.25 made three pointers per contest.
 
"Concordia is a quality team that is well coached and shoots the ball very well," Harada said.  "They have nearly four players averaging double-figures and three of them are shooting over 40-percent from three.  We will definitely have our hands full guarding them on Saturday."
 
DOLLAR NIGHT:  Saturday's game versus Concordia is "Dollar Night".  Admission into the game, hotdogs and drinks are just 1$ each.