GOLDEN, Colo. (Nov. 17) – The Central Washington University women's basketball team fell in their first game of the Tony Corbetta Classic, 61-56, to Colorado Mines.
 
The Wildcats fall to 1-2 overall, while the Orediggers improve to 2-1. 
 
The Wildcats gained an early 15-13 lead to end the first quarter thanks to five points from Kassidy Malcolm and four points from Sadie Mensing.
 
Malcolm finished with seven points and four rebounds.  Mensing tallied eight points and six boards.
 
Mines reclaimed the lead early in the second quarter, pulling ahead 17-16.  The Orediggers held their lead through halftime as the Wildcats continued to look for a way to tip the scale in their favor.
 
The Wildcats were outscored 14-7 in the second quarter, but kept the score close in the third before heading into the final period of play.
 
In the second half the teams drew even at 34-34, with the second quarter deficit as the deciding factor.  Alexis Pana all 12 of her points in the second half, while Taylor Baird added six.
 
The Wildcats drew within one with six minutes to play after a three by Pana, but the Oreddiggers battled back to extend their lead.  With 1:15 left to play, a layup from Baird once again cut the deficit to one, but again the Orediggers were able to extend their lead and finish with a 61-56 victory.
 
The Wildcats struggled from the floor, shooting just 34.4 percent.  They outshot the Orediggers from beyond the arc, converting eight times compared to just three treys for Mines.  Kaelie Flores finished with nine points, six six rebounds, and two blocks.  Baird finished with eight rebounds, six points, and two blocks.  Jasmin Edwards notched six points and picked up six assists.

"Not our best effort tonight," CWU Head Coach Randi Richardson-Thornley said.  "We lacked consistency on both ends of the floor.  We need to be the aggressors and compete every possession, and  I don't think we did that tonight.  Despite all of our mistakes we had an opportunity to win, especially if we knocked down our free throws.  Tomorrow is a great opportunity to bounce back and learn from tonight's mistakes."
 
Central is back in action on Saturday (Nov. 18) to take on Metro State Denver.  Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. PT.