Women's Basketball | 1/27/2016 2:02:00 PM

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Jan. 27) – The Central Washington University women's basketball team takes on Saint Martin's and Seattle Pacific this week to open the second half of its conference schedule.
 
The Wildcats look to even the season series against both sides, as they fell to Saint Martin's and Seattle Pacific at the turn of the New Year.
 
The Saints have dropped five consecutive games, the last two coming to Anchorage and Fairbanks.  Saint Martin's has not scored more than 60 points since Jan. 5 in its 78-70 win over Seattle Pacific.
 
Krista Stabler continues to lead the Saints, averaging 17.9 points per game.  Megan Wiedeman follows Stabler, putting up 13.1 points a game.  Wiedeman is second on Saint Martin's with a shooting percentage of .425.  She leads the Saints in rebounding, pulling in 10.1 boards per game.  Saint Martin's is averaging 58.1 points per game, while allowing 69.7.
 
The Wildcats are 26-29 overall against the Saints, with a record of 10-18 on the road.  In the reverse fixture between the two, Saint Martin's came away with a 65-61 victory in Ellensburg.  Wiedeman and Stabler led SMU, while Parker and Edwards led CWU.
 
Following their contest against Saint Martin's the Wildcats head to Seattle to take on Seattle Pacific.  The Falcons are 3-7 in conference and are riding a seven-game losing streak.  Their last win came against Central on Dec. 31.  Jordan McPhee leads SPU in scoring, averaging 12.8 points per game. 
 
Courtney Hollander is close behind at 12.2 points per game.  Hollander leads the Falcons in rebounding, pulling in 7.8 rebounds per game.  McPhee leads SPU in steals, pickpocketing the opposition 33 times.  The Falcons are allowing 63.4 points per game, while scoring 62.7.
 
Against Seattle Pacific, Central has posted a record of 16-37.  The Wildcats have dropped seven straight to the Falcons and are 5-20 playing away from Ellensburg.  In their first meeting, the Falcons picked up a 52-49 victory.  Julia Haining notched 21 points for Seattle Pacific.
 
"It seems like we've been on the road forever," CWU Head Coach Jeff Harada.  "But we've had some success.  Good teams win on the road and we have to continue to do so if we want to keep pace and make a push in the conference standings and hopefully the Regional rankings as well. We feel like we are better than our 6-4 first half record and are excited for the second go around starting this week."
 
With their games this week the Wildcats will have played four straight road games, the longest road stretch of the season.  It's been a strong effort on the road, however, as Central has posted a 7-1 record away from Nicholson Pavilion.
 
The Wildcats have been good away from home all season, but are also riding a three-game win streak.  Central has won five of its last six and look to continue the success this week.
 
"We are taking it one game at a time and not overlooking anyone," Harada added.  "The only game that matters is the next one and it starts with preparing ourselves mentally and focusing on that team.  Winning those games in the practices leading up to them instead of just showing up hoping to win on game day is the approach we've been taking." 
 
An integral part of the Wildcats' play is center Jasmine Parker.  Last week Parker posted a career day, posting 27 points against Concordia.
 
"Jasmine had a great game because she was aggressive, playing with great energy and confidence," Harada noted of his senior center.  "She definitely has the ability to play that way every night and as a senior with 10 games left she needs to decide if she wants to do that.  If she does, we'll be a very tough team to beat."
 
On top of the strong performances by Parker, the Wildcats own the ninth best scoring defense in Division II.
 
"Our defense is something we take great pride in and our players have all bought into that mentality," Harada acknowledged.  "The younger players have embraced the challenges of learning our defensive principles and each player knows they have to perform on that end if they want to be on the floor. They've worked really hard to improve and understand that defense is a choice that requires intelligence and effort more than anything else. "
 
Underclassmen like Mandy Steward and Sadie Mensing have recorded crucial minutes for the Wildcats this season.  Steward is averaging 9.9 points per game, third for Central.  Mensing has started eight games on the season and averages 17.9 minutes per game.
 
Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Lacey on Thursday and 5 p.m. on Saturday in Seattle.