ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Feb. 6) – The Central Washington University women's basketball team fell to Simon Fraser University, 56-48.  The Wildcats are now 15-7 overall and 8-6 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference contests.  The win elevates Simon Fraser to 11-8 and 9-5 in GNAC play and a game above Central Washington in the conference table.
 
The Wildcats fall to fifth in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference after an 0-2 week.
 
"Definitely disappointed in the way we started the game and pretty much the entire first half," CWU Head Coach Jeff Harada said.  "Give Simon Fraser credit though.  They came with energy and confidence and shot the ball really well.  It was probably our worst defensive half of the year, it was tough to watch."
 
The Clan zeroed in offensively in the first half, shooting 59.26 percent from the field, including 4-for-8 from beyond the three-point line. 
 
Mandy Steward and the Wildcats shot 27.6 percent from the field.  Steward picked up six points in the first 20 minutes of play.  Eight different Wildcats found the score sheet in the opening two quarters.
 
Central opened the third quarter with a seven-point run, closing the gap to 38-27.  The Wildcats kept the Clan off the board in the third quarter until Elisa Homer hit a three with 4:18 left in the quarter. 
 
The Wildcats mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, led by Steward.  Trailing 50-33, Steward hit three consecutive baskets.  The Clan had a pair of turnovers and a missed shot during that time.  Then, Jasmine Parker converted a pair of free throws and brought the game to 50-41. 
 
Central shot 41.38 percent in the second half, finishing with a 34.5 percent on the evening.
 
"We did a much better job in the second half and I am really proud of the way we responded," Harada noted.  "If we bring that fire and energy to start the game, maybe the outcome is different.  You just can't dig a hole that deep against a good shooting team and we came up a little short"
 
Simon Fraser quieted the comeback and held on for the 56-48 win.
 
The Wildcats' bench contributed 22 points, while holding the Clan's bench to just nine.
 
Steward finished with 16 points.  Jasmin Edwards recorded seven assists and two steals.  As a team, the Wildcats recorded twelve steals.
 
"Jasmin was great tonight and Mandy scored when she took good shots," Harada acknowledged.  "We just need other players to step up if we expect to win games like this."
 
Central is back in action next week on the road against Alaska Fairbanks and Alaska Anchorage.  The Wildcats are 9-1 on the road.
 
"I know we are a better team than what we showed and we have to decide as a team how we want the rest of the season to go," Harada said.
 
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday and 2 p.m. on Saturday.