Women's Basketball | 11/24/2015 1:07:00 PM
ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Nov. 24) – The Central Washington University women's basketball team hosts Whitworth University on Wednesday (Nov. 25) in a pre-Thanksgiving matchup.
Whitworth University is 1-1 on the year. The Pirates opened their season with an overtime loss to conference foe Eastern Oregon, 61-71, before recording a 73-58 win over College of Idaho. KC McConnell leads Whitworth in scoring, averaging 14 points per game. Briann Maley is the leading rebounder averaging seven boards a game. The Pirates are averaging 67 points per game as a team, while allowing 64.5.
The Wildcats are 8-8 all-time against the Pirates of Whitworth. Central is 5-2 in Nicholson Pavilion against Whitworth, with the last meeting coming in 1999. The Wildcats look to party like it's 1999 and repeat their 81-49 victory prior to Y2K.
The emergence of
Mandy Steward off the bench, and the resurgence of Alexis Berrymsith, has helped propel the Wildcats to a strong start. Berrysmith is currently second on the team in scoring, averaging 9.3 points per game. Steward has tallied 63 minutes off the bench and is averaging 7.3 points per game, fourth on the Wildcats. Berrysmith is also third on the CWU roster with 20 rebounds, however she leads the team in offensive rebounds with 10.
The Wildcats enter Wednesday's contest with a 3-1 record following their 1-1 stint in California. Central defeated Notre Dame de Namur, 80-49, before falling to the Academy of Art, 68-76.
Jasmine Parker, Berrysmith, and Steward each tallied double digits in points against de Namur. Steward added eight defensive boards and two blocks.
Jasmin Edwards pickpocketed three players and dished out three assists.
The Wildcats won each quarter against the Argonauts, something coach
Jeff Harada preaches.
After taking a 34-27 lead into halftime against the Academy of Art, the Wildcats could not find an answer for the Urban Knights. It was the first time the Wildcats allowed more than 50 points on the season.
Central Washington is holding teams to just 53.3 points per game, including one game where the Wildcats held San Francisco State to 39 points. The Wildcats' staunch defense has blocked 19 shots, recorded 28 steals, and pulled down 112 defensive rebounds.
The Wildcats hold a 2-0 record in Nicholson Pavilion this season, with victories over San Francisco State and Hawaii Pacific University.
Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. Live stats and video are available on wildcatsports.com.
