ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Feb. 4) -- The Central Washington University women's basketball team dropped a tight rivalry match to Great Northwest Athletic Conference foe Western Washington, 58-51. The Wildcats are now 15-6 overall and 8-5 in GNAC play. The Vikings improve to 15-6 and 11-2 in conference. The Vikings' win extends their lead in the standings to three games over the Wildcats.
The loss ends the Wildcats' five-game winning streak.
Jasmin Edward knocked down three from beyond the arc, and finished with 20 points, but the Wildcats did not find points late in the fourth quarter after leveling the score line at the end of the third.
Behind Edwards was freshman
Mandy Steward. Steward found success from range against the Vikings, picking up 15 points with a trio of threes.
"Mandy and Jasmin really carried the load offensively for us and really kept us in the game with some big threes," Harada noted. "Unfortunately our post play which has been big for us all year was non-existent tonight and when we're not getting points in the paint, it puts a lot of pressure on our guards to make shots."
Western Washington recorded six blocks in the contest, all coming underneath in the paint. Kayla Bernsen knocked down four shots alone.
"This one definitely stings, not only because of the rivalry, but because we definitely had opportunities to win," CWU Head Coach
Jeff Harada said. "Credit Western for making plays down the stretch. Turnovers, missed free throws and not rebounding will not win you many games and we proved that tonight."
The Wildcats shot just 6-for-14 at the free throw line.
Central's bench recorded 23 points on the evening, while the Wildcats held Western Washington reserves to just four points.
Western found success in the paint, recorded 24 points from close range. The Wildcats held the Vikings to just one three-pointer in the second half.
The Wildcats outscored the Vikings in the second and third quarters, 31-28. Western bookended the contest by claiming the quarter advantage in the first and fourth, 30-21.
The Wildcats are back in action on Saturday (Feb. 6) in Nicholson Pavilion against GNAC opponent Simon Fraser. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
