CWU Falls to Alaska Anchorage 48-69
 
ELLENSBURG, Wash.- The Central Washington University (10-14, 5-11 GNAC) women's basketball team loss to No. 2 Alaska Anchorage Saturday evening 48-69 in Nicholson Pavilion.
 
The Wildcats were led by junior guard Jasmin Edwards who scored nine points while adding two rebounds, two steals and an assist.
 
Freshman guard Alexis Pana scored a season-high eight points in 17 minutes of action, shooting 50-percent from the field (3-of-6), while also setting a season-high rebound total of three. Junior Taylor Baird led Central Washington on the glass, hauling in 13 rebounds with seven points, two assists and two blocks.
 
Alaska Anchorage (23-1, 16-0 GNAC) was paced by senior forward Autummn Williams who found herself with a game-high 31 points. Williams also dished out five assists, snatched five rebounds and added two steals.
 
"Hats off to Anchorage," CWU Head Coach Jeff Harada said.  "They are second in the nation for a reason and I was disappointed that we didn't match their level of intensity tonight.  We gave up too many offensive rebounds and they made us pay for it.  We struggled guarding Williams and she had a big second half for them.  We just didn't bring it enough on either end to be able to win a game like this."
 
CWU won the tip, but went 0-for-8 on the team's first attempts until Baird was successful on a fast break layup to cut into Alaska Anchorage's lead, 4-2. UAA knocked down a shot from beyond the arc and a pair of free throws before CWU scored a quick four points with layups from Edwards and junior Rachel Lorentson to bring the score within two (9-7). The Wildcats would trail the Seawolves 13-8 heading into the second quarter.
 
Neither team scored in the opening minute of the second stanza, but Edwards slashed to the basket for an old-fashioned three-point play to close Anchorage's advantage to 13-11. A layup by Baird resulted in the first even score of the game, 13-13, but Anchoarge's Kimijah King responded with a pair of successful free throws. Leading 15-14, the Seawolves closed out the second quarter on 15-7 run to enter halftime with a 30-21 advantage.
 
The third period featured the Seawolves leading by as many as 14 (37-23), but the Wildcats were able to recover and closed the gap to eight (37-29) with 4:30 remaining. Five straight points by Anchorage's Williams increased the Seawolve lead to 42-29, but a successful layup and jumper from senior Kortney Grattic closed out the third stanza with a score of 48-37 in favor of the Seawolves.
 
True freshman Alexis Pana knocked down her second three-pointer of the contest with 6:29 remaining in the game to set the score at 55-44. Unfortunately, the Wildcats were unable to get any closer in the score column and eventually fell, 48-69.
 
"We had some good moments, but you need more than that against a team like Anchorage," Harada noted.  "I thought their pressure and physicality took us out of our offense and we started settling for jumpers instead of getting to the basket.  Instead of attacking, we let them dictate our movements."
 
Central takes on Concordia University (Ore.) Thursday (Feb. 16) at 6 p.m. in Portland, Ore.
 
"We need to get over this one quickly and get ready for two big road games next week," Harada finished.  "We still have the opportunity to control our playoff fate and that's all we can ask for.  I expect us to be ready to get back to work on Monday as we prepare for Concordia and Western Oregon."
 
-CWU-