ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Jan. 14) – The Central Washington University women's basketball dropped a 66-42 decision against No. 2 University of Alaska Anchorage. The Wildcats are now 10-5 on the season and 3-4 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Seawolves improve to 19-1 and 6-1 in the GNAC.
"Hats off to Anchorage," CWU Head Coach
Jeff Harada said. "We knew they were going to pressure us defensively, but I was impressed with their execution offensively. I thought there were a few possessions where we played really good defense, but they hit big shots with us right in their face. It kind of took the air out of us for a while."
Central's bench proved a key asset once again, as Harada's reserves scored 24 points.
Kortney Grattic led the squad with nine points and eight rebounds. She also added one block and one steal.
"Kortney had a great game, probably her best one as a Wildcat," Harada noted. "She was aggressive and tough on both ends and that's why she played well. More than her scoring, her 8 rebounds showed she had a lot of fight in her."
The Wildcats' outscored the Seawolves' bench 24-20.
Central nabbed a 5-4 lead to open the game with a layup from
Alexis Berrysmith and a three by
Jasmin Edwards. Alysha Devine picked up a jumper in the paint for Anchorage, taking a 6-5 lead, and the Seawolves did not look back.
Berrysmith finished with nine points, while Edwards recorded four and three assists.
Anchorage led 35-16 at half.
"Offensively we were definitely out of rhythm at times and they had a lot to do with that," Harada added. "We let them dictate our movements and we spent too many possessions standing and watching instead of moving, cutting and screening like we practiced. There's a reason why their ranked 2
nd in the nation and they played like it tonight."
The Wildcats' younger players got some timely minutes against the Seawolves with every player contributing at least six minutes.
Ending the third quarter, and opening the fourth, Harada went with five players new to the program in Grattic, Steward,
JonNae Richardson,
Sadie Mensing, and
McKenzie Day.
"Nae [Richardson] also had her best game of her career because she was fearless and just tried to make plays," Harada acknowledeged.
Central's freshman combined for 16 points and five rebounds.
"I was really proud of our younger players for giving us a spark in the second half," Harada said of his younger group. "It was a great learning experience for them and I feel they took some positive steps forward tonight.
The Wildcats finished with 19 rebounds, 11 assists, two blocks, and five steals.
"I still believe in this team and what we can accomplish," Harada noted. "Sometimes you're not as bad as you think you are when you lose, and I truly believe that is the case tonight."
Central will be back in action on Saturday (Jan. 16) as the Wildcats host the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.
