NAMPA, Idaho (Jan. 9) – Jasmin Edwards scored 19 points as the Wildcats ended Northwest Nazarene's four-game winning streak with a 79-73 victory.
 
The Wildcats are now 8-7 overall and 4-3 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.  The Nighthawks fall to 9-3 overall and 5-2 in GNAC competition.
 
"Extremely proud of this group for their effort, toughness, and execution of our game plan," CWU Head Coach Randi Richardson-Thornley said.  "Especially with the quick turnaround.  This was totally a team effort and a great building block moving forward."
 
The Wildcats shot 46.8 percent from the floor, including a 54.8 clip in the first half.  Central scored 38 points in the first half, but did not get to the free throw line.  Alongside Edwards, four other Wildcats finished with 10 points or more.  It is the seventh consecutive game Edwards has tallied 10 or more points.  There have only been two games this season where Edwards has not reached double digits in scoring.  She is now averaging 13.9 points per game this season.
 
Beverly Verduin recorded 13 points, a career high, including a 3-for-4 effort from beyond the arc.  Alexis Pana also scored 13 and she shot 50 percent from the floor.  Kaelie Flores finished 5-for-7 from the field and compiled 11 points and seven rebounds.  Taylor Baird rounded out the double digit scorers for the Wildcats, as she scored 10 points and hauled in a team high nine rebounds.  The Wildcats notched six blocks, seven steals, and 40 rebounds.
 
Tied at 4-4 in the first quarter, an 8-0 run set the tone for Richardson-Thornley and the Wildcats.  Central held Northwest Nazarene to under 10 points until just 1:14 remained in the first quarter.
 
The Wildcats largest lead, a 15-point differential, came with 5:23 in the third quarter.  The Nighthawks chipped away at Central's lead over the remaining 14 minutes.  A nine-point run in the fourth quarter closed the difference to just four, 71-67, with just 40 seconds remaining in regulation.  A jumper from Flores stopped the Nighthawks' run and the Wildcats sealed the victory by converting six of their final free throws in the waning seconds. 
 
Central Washington is back in action on Saturday (Jan. 13) at Montana State Billings.  Tip-off is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. MT