Women's Basketball | 2/15/2017 11:02:00 AM

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Feb. 15) – The Central Washington University women's basketball team is back on the road for a pair of Great Northwest Athletic Conference matchups.
 
The Wildcats (10-14, 5-11) head to Concordia (Ore.) on Thursday (Feb. 16) before heading over to Western Oregon on Saturday (Feb. 18).
 
"I'm excited for our team as we head into the final stretch of our season," CWU Head Coach Jeff Harada said.  "We've been playing better of late and have put ourselves in a position to make a run for conference tournament.  These are the games that make the season fun and exciting and I'm confident we'll be ready to play this week."
 
With four games remaining on the season, the Wildcats are two games behind the sixth and final GNAC playoff spot.  Concordia (10-14, 7-9), Alaska (11-12, 7-9), and Northwest Nazarene (9-13, 7-9) are all level for the final spot.  Western Oregon (7-16, 3-13) are two games behind the Wildcats.
 
Thursday's game against Concordia University is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the LCEF Court.
 
The Cavaliers have won their last three games, following a four-game skid.  They have not scored 70 points in their last eight games, dating back to January 19, when they scored 87 in an overtime win against Northwest Nazarene. 
 
Concordia averages 63 points per game, while opponents score 67.  The Cavaliers shoot 37.5 percent from the field, including a 34.5 percent mark from beyond the arc.  They are holding opponents to a shooting percentage of 41.8.  Last time CWU and Concordia faced off, the Cavaliers took home a 59-57 victory.
 
Leading Concordia's offense is Danielle Hartzog, who averages 12 points per game.  Kizah Maltezo averges 9.3 points per game.  Keesha Sarman averages 3.7 assists per game and 5.5 rebounds.  Bailey Cartwright leads the Cavaliers in rebounding, pulling in 6.7 rebounds per game.
 
"Concordia is a tough team that beat us on our home floor in a two-point game," Harada added.  "They made a few more plays than we did, but I know our players are up to the challenge to play them again.  They have some really good guards who can shoot and get to the rim and Maltezo off the bench is scoring a lot of points.  They also have good size in the paint with Cartwright and Peacock so it should be a great matchup with a playoff type atmosphere."
 
Western Oregon is currently riding a six-game losing streak, the last win coming on January 21.  The Wolves have only won two games since the New Year.  The last time they played the Wildcats, Central Washington picked up a 77-63 victory.
 
The Wolves average 61 points per game, while allowing 70.  They are shooting 39.4 percent from the field and 29.3 percent from beyond the arc.
 
Shelby Snook leads the scoring effort, putting up 14 points per game and also leads in assists at 3.1 per game.  Sydney Azorr also averages double digits at 10.1.  Jasmine Miller leads Western Oregon's rebounding, pulling in 5.3 per game.
 
"Western Oregon is always a tough game because they have good players who can score on anyone," Harada noted.  "Snook, Miller and Azzor hurt us the last time we played so we'll have to find a way to limit them.  I expect it to be a physical game and we'll have to bring our best on both ends."
 
Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday and 5:15 p.m. on Saturday.