BILLINGS, Mont. (Dec. 18) – Behind clutch shooting and late game free throws the Central Washington University women's basketball team defeated Montana Tech 56-47 in their first game of the Yellowjacket Basketball Classic Thursday night.
 
With the win, Central Washington extends its winning streak to four games and now stands with a 7-2 record.
 
The Wildcats led going into halftime 25-23 thanks to the scoring output by Courtney Johnson and Erika Locker.  Both players scored seven first-half points each making one of two three pointers in the frame. 
 
The Wildcats trailed for the majority of the opening half before Locker went on a scoring spree hitting scoring seven points in a four-minute stretch to take a 25-21 lead.
 
The second half started with both teams exchanging leads before Jasmin Edwards hit a three pointer followed by a layin by Jasmine Edwards giving the Wildcats a 35-30 lead with 16:09 left.  Neither team could create distance between each other, and with Montana Tech up 43-41, the duo of Edwards Parker answered again with Edwards draining a three followed by another layup by Parker to give the Wildcats a 46-43 lead with just under five minutes left to play.
 
With 2:39 left in regulation Edwards got fouled and sank two free throws to give CWU a 50-47 advantage.  The Wildcats then took advantage of two missed three pointers by the diggers as Chantel Heath made 3 of 4 free throws to increase the Wildcat lead to 53-47 with 1:26 left.  Central Washington made 7-of-8 free throws down the stretch to finish the game with the final 56-47 victory.
 
Edwards led all scorers with 14 points and added seven rebounds three assists and a steal.  Four of her rebounds were on the offensive end.  In total four Wildcats scored in double-figures as Locker added 12, Johnson 11 and Parker 10.
 
The Wildcats finish up their two-game trip to Billings, Mont when they play South Dakota Mines tomorrow at 4:15 p.m.