NAMPA, Idaho (Feb. 23) – The Central Washington University women's basketball dropped its penultimate game of the regular season, 77-84, to Northwest Nazarene in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game.  The Wildcats are now 16-11 on the year and 9-10 in GNAC games, while the Crusaders are now 12-13 overall and 10-9 in GNAC contests.
 
"Really proud of how we competed to the end," CWU Head Coach Jeff Harada said.  "We had a few rough stretches where things didn't go our way, but NNU shot the ball well and we just couldn't string together enough stops tonight."
 
Jasmine Parker picked up eight points in the first quarter, helping the Wildcats stake out a 23-19 lead after the first period.
 
Parker finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists, one block, and one steal.  She shot 66.7 percent from the field.
 
The Crusaders battled back, taking a 42-37 lead into halftime. 
 
Parker, Alexis Berrysmith, and Jasmin Edwards chipped away at the Crusaders' lead in the third quarter, levelling the score at 46-46 with 5:46 remaining in the quarter.
 
The trio combined for 60 points on the night.
 
Edwards finished with a career high 27 points.  She added four rebounds, two assists, and five steals. 
 
"Jasmin stepped up tonight and was just a warrior on both ends," Harada acknowledged.  "Alexis and Jasmine were also great offensively and India Matheson was able to score, but it was hard to keep more than one of them in the game because NNU played with a five-guard lineup most of the second half.  We had to adjust defensively.  We just needed someone else to step up and score.
 
Berrysmith notched 16 points.
 
The remainder of the third was a see-saw battle before the Crusaders found momentum in the fourth quarter.  Northwest Nazarene grabbed its largest lead of the evening with just under six minutes remaining in regulation, pulling ahead by 10.  The Crusaders finished 50 percent from the field.
 
"Logan is a tough matchup and she was able to get to the line more than we would have liked," Harada added.
Central scored 38 points in the paint and 17 off turnovers.  The Wildcats forced 21 turnovers throughout the contest. 
 
"Overall a few less turnovers and fouls and a couple more made layups and free thros could have been the difference tonight," Harada stated.  " Nevertheless we have a chance to finish the regular season strong on Senior Night Saturday and I know e'll bounce back and play hard for our seniors."
 
Sadie Mensing finished with six rebounds, second on the Wildcats.
 
Central Washington is currently sixth in the GNAC table, fighting for the final spot in the GNAC tournament.  Seattle Pacific is two games back, with a game in hand, in the table.  Alaska Fairbanks is even with SPU, but ineligible for postseason play.  Seattle Pacific plays at Concordia on Thursday and at Western Oregon on Saturday.
 
The Wildcats close out the regular season at home in Nicholson Pavilion on Saturday against Montana State Billings.  Tip-off is scheduled for 5:15 p.m.