Women's Basketball | 2/9/2016 2:12:00 PM

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Feb. 8) –After dropping a pair of tight games at home the Central Washington women's basketball team heads to Alaska to take on both Alaska Fairbanks and Anchorage. 
 
As the 2015-16 season winds down, the fight for the final playoff spots in the conference table become tighter.  Currently, the Wildcats are fifth in the standings with a two-game lead on Northwest Nazarene, whose GNAC record is 6-8.
 
"Every game is so important not only to hold on to a top 6 spot, but for seeding purposes as well," CWU Head Coach Jeff Harada said.  "Teams two through six all have to play each other again at some point so anything can happen.  For us, we have to win all our remaining home games and hopefully steal a couple on the road and get some momentum heading into the conference tournament."
 
While the trip to Alaska is always a tough one to make, the Wildcats have posted a 9-1 record thus far away from Nicholson Pavilion. 
 
"We have a good routine and schedule and I think the players realize we are a good road team so there's some confidence every time we take the floor," Harada added.  "We also have a great fan base that travels to support us so that helps as well.  If you look at the games though, it's no surprise that our defense has been consistently good away from home.  Some of our best defensive games are on the road so that is a big reason for our success."
 
Earlier this season in Ellensburg the Wildcats split a pair of games to the Alaska schools, recording a win over Fairbanks.
 
Central opens the Alaska trip in Fairbanks on Thursday. 
 
The Nanooks hold a 10-14 record overall with a 5-9 record in the GNAC.  They currently sit behind NNU in the GNAC table, but are ineligible for postseason play should they breach the top six spots. 
 
Fairbanks has defended its home court well, posting a 7-4 record in the confines of Alaska Airlines Court.
 
When Central and Fairbanks met back in January, the Wildcats came away with an 83-57 victory.  Jasmin Edwards and Mandy Steward led the way with 13 points each.
 
Jordan Wilson leads the Nanooks offensively, averaging 17.2 points per game.  Behind her is, Jaylee Mays (12.0), and Kaillee Skjold (11.8).  Wilson is also the Nanooks' leading rebounder with 149, an average of 6.2 per game.
 
"Both teams have great players and it's hard to only focus on one or two because there are others around them that can also hurt you," Harada noted.  "With Wilson and Mays from UAF, limiting their touches and open looks will be a big key.  The less they can shoot it, the less they'll score. "
 
Fairbanks is averaging 67.2 points per game, but is opponents are averaging 72.3.  The loss of Stephanie Toumson has hurt the Nanooks' rebounding efforts, as they are posting a -5.7 rebounding margin.  Toumson was pulling in nearly 10 boards per game through the first nine games of the season.
 
The Nanooks are 2-3 in their last five, but lost to Concordia in their most recent game in a 70-72 score line.
 
The Wildcats will then take on the conference leader, Alaska Anchorage, on Saturday.  The 26-1 Seawolves are a perfect 13-0 at home this season and are 13-1 in GNAC play.  Their lone conference loss came against Western Washington on Dec. 5.
 
Since then, Anchorage has been perfect, including a 66-42 win over Central on January 14 in Ellensburg.
 
The Seawolves are averaging 82.9 points per game, seventh in Division II.  Leading their offense is Megan Mullings.  Mullings is putting up 15.9 points per game, while also leading the Seawolves with six rebounds per game.
 
"Same with Buchanan for UAA.  She's such a good shooter so we have to have someone on her at all times," Harada acknowledged.  "Mullings is a tough matchup because of her athleticism in the paint. Hopefully we can neutralize that by not allowing her to seal us and force her touches as far from the rim as possible."
 
Central's sixth ranked defense has its work cut out for it this week.  Despite dropping both games last week, the Wildcats' defense continued its strong play.  Central held Western Washington to just 58 points, well shy of its 67.4 season average.
 
Edwards had a standout week for the Wildcats, grabbing 20 points against Western and notching seven assists against Simon Fraser.
 
"Jasmin does so much for us on both ends of the floor and I don't know if people realize the toll it takes on her both mentally and physically," Harada said.  "She has been consistent with her effort and play all season long and I wouldn't expect anything different this week."
 
A strong post presence will go a long way to putting together a strong run for the Wildcats in the remaining games.
 
"It comes down to doing the little things better and trusting the process," Harada said.  "Our posts are so important to our success and there are times when the pressure is on, we revert back to old habits instead of remembering what got us to the position we are in right now.  For the 3 senior posts, it comes down to wanting to create good memories of their senior year.  That is something they can control and hopefully it rejuvenates them down the stretch for us."
 
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, while Saturday's game will begin at 2 p.m.