ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Jan. 5) – The Central Washington women's basketball team fell, 77-60, to Simon Fraser University in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game. 
 
The Wildcats fall to 6-7 overall and 1-4 in GNAC play.  The Clan improve to 13-2 overall and 4-1 in GNAC competition. 
 
"Obviously disappointed in the outcome," CWU Head Coach Jeff Harada said. "Credit to Simon Fraser as they are a really good team, but we had too many lapses in the third quarter which ultimately decided the game."
 
Taylor Baird managed 17 points, five rebounds, and two assists, but the Clan kept the junior center close in the second half.  Baird scored just five points in the second 20 minutes of play.
 
Central Washington came out of the gate quickly, taking a 19-14 lead after the first quarter.  The Clan responded by flipping the score line in the second quarter, levelling the score at 33-33 as the teams headed into the locker room.
 
The Wildcats finished the first half with a shooting percentage of 54.2.  Baird was 5-for-6 from the floor, while Rachel Lorentson picked up seven points.  The Clan also shot well during the opening stanzas, finishing at 50 percent in the half.  They knocked down three attempts from beyond the arc, missing just once.
 
The second half was not kind to Central Washington.  The Wildcats shot just 36 percent, with only four players contributing points in the back half of the contest.  The Wildcats did manage to pick up six offensive rebounds, but their efforts were not enough. 
 
"We gave them too many looks in the second half and they definitely made us pay," Harada added.  "It seemed like they made every shot they took."
 
The Clan shot 70.4 percent from the floor, including a 4-for-6 mark from beyond the arc.  Ellen Kett and Meg Wilson each chipped in 11 points in the second half.  Kett also managed eight assists.
 
Simon Fraser finished the night with 46 points in the paint, including 26 in the second half.  The Clan also scored 27 points off of turnovers, with 12 in the third quarter alone. 
 
The Wildcats recorded 30 points in the paint and 15 off of turnovers. 
 
Jasmin Edwards finished with 15 points, five assists, and one rebound.  Both Lorentson and Taylor Shaw finished with seven points.  
 
"We need to have more pride in our defense and understand and execute the game plan instead of winging it on our own," Harada acknowledged.  "I know we are a better team and the effort is there, but playing hard is not always enough.  You have to play smart in order to win tough games like these."
 
The Wildcats are back in action on Saturday (Jan. 7) when they host Western Washington University.  Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.