ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Jan. 29) – The Central Washington University women's basketball team lost a close matchup with third-ranked Alaska Anchorage 58-50 Thursday night in Nicholson Pavilion.
 
The Wildcats fall to 10-8 on the season and 5-5 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  The nationally ranked Seawolves improve to 19-1, 9-1 in conference.
 
Wildcats came out firing to start the game, getting their first three baskets from behind the arc with Chantel Heath hitting a three on the Wildcats first possession followed by two treys from Melanie Valdez. The Seawolves countered with their very aggressive zone trap defense, which forced the Wildcats to have 10 first-half turnovers. Sixteen of the Seawolves 32 points in the first half came from baskets inside the paint.
 
Valdez and Jasmine Parker were able to keep the Wildcats within four points (32-28) going into the half. Valdez was a perfect 3-3 from behind the arc and Parker was dominant down low getting eight of her 11 rebounds in the first half. 
 
"I thought we competed, that was the biggest thing," CWU head coach Jeff Harada said about his teams efforts.  "We were aggressive offensively throughout the game and attacked their press. We were finding the cutters and getting into their zone for open shots and looking to score."
 
The physical and fast paced play continued in the second half with the Wildcats continuing to shoot well, but the Seawolves constant full court pressure on defense was making it difficult for the Wildcats on every possession.
 
The Wildcats found ways to keep pace with UAA and took its first lead of the second half on a free throw by Parker.  The Wildcats and Seawolves traded leads four times in the final 10 minutes of the contest.  The Seawolves gained a 49-47 lead on a lay-in by KeKe Wright, which sparked a 5-0 run by the visitors.  Courtney Johnson connected on a three-pointer with 5:52 left in the contest to pull the Wildcats to within two-points, however, that would be the final two points scored by CWU.
 
The Wildcats missed their final six-shots of the game, which forced CWU to send the Seawolves to the foul line as time expired in the contest.
 
"Their defense was good. We definitely shot well in the first half compared to the second half, "Harada said. "It's easy to say we had open shots and missed them, but their defense was fast and very athletic and they force you into taking tough shots, and they did that tonight."
 
Neither team shot very well on the night with the Seawolves holding a slight edge in shooting percentage 38.9 to 34.0.  The Wildcat made it difficult for the conferences leader in scoring to make baskets as Parker controlled the paint with five rejections on the night.  Central Washington was able to hold the Seawolves to 25 points below their season average of 83 points per game.
 
Valdez lead the Wildcats with 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting.  Johnson and Jasmin Edwards both added eight points.  In addition to her five blocks, Parker added seven points and 11 rebounds.
 
KeKe Wright who scored 13 points, seven of which came from the charity stripe, led the Seawolves.
 
The Wildcats will look to get back to their winning ways this Saturday when they host Alaska at 7 p.m.
 
"It's a musts win versus Fairbanks, "Harada said about Saturdays game against Alaska.  "It's a big game especially since we lost to them up there on the road. If we want to stay where we are at in the GNAC playoff race we have to get ready to defend our home court this Saturday."