ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Nov. 21) – The Central Washington University women's basketball team defeated Eastern Oregon 84-70, behind 21 points from Jasmin Edwards.
 
Edwards added 10 assists to complete the double-double.
 
The Wildcats improved to 2-3 overall, while the Mountaineers marked the game as an exhibition. 
 
A quick 12-4 lead for the Mountaineers swung momentum towards Eastern Oregon.  The Wildcats chipped away, cutting the deficit to 18-17 with 2:27 to play in the opening stanza.  Eastern Oregon closed the quarter on a 9-2 run, taking a 27-19 advantage.
 
Trailing 32-21, Kaelie Flores converted a layup starting a 12-2 run in favor of Central and bringing the score to 34-33 with 6:06 remaining in the second quarter.
 
The Mountaineers increased their lead to eight, 41-33, but the Wildcats weren't finished in the second quarter.  Jasmin Edwards hit back-to-back threes, before Rachel Lorentson made a layup at the buzzer to tie the game, 41-41.
 
"We played great defense in the first quarter," CWU Head Coach Randi-Richardson Thornley said.  "Our girls didn't hang their heads, they competed.  We forced them to take shots late in the shot clock, but they were hot.  We responded and played our game.  We didn't allow them to change how we wanted to play.  Eastern Oregon is a great team, they are going to win a lot of games this year."
 
Central Washington claimed its first lead with a minute and a half into the third quarter on a layup from Taylor Baird.  Sadie Mensing added a pair of free throws, before Baird added another bucket for a 49-43 advantage.  It was all Central for the remainder of the contest. 
 
The Wildcats expanded their lead to 72-58 at the end of the third and held their double digit advantage through the fourth. 
 
Central finished with a 51.6 shooting percentage, including a 16-for-26 from the field in the second half.   Baird tallied 17 points, three rebounds, one block, and two steals.  Mensing finished with 15 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.  Taylor Shaw also finished with double digit points, tallying 10 points, two rebounds, and one assist. Flores finished with a team high eight rebounds.   The Wildcats totaled 33 rebounds, including 17 offensive boards.
 
The Wildcats are back in action on Saturday (Nov. 25) against Pacific Lutheran University.  Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in Nicholson Pavilion.