Game Information: Central Washington vs. Cal State Monterey Bay
Friday, Nov. 9 | 3:00 p.m. PST
Nampa, Idaho | Johnson Sports Center
Game Information: Central Washington vs. Stanislaus State
Saturday, Nov. 10 | 7:30 p.m. PST
Nampa, Idaho | Johnson Sports Center
TIP-OFF
The Central Washington University women's basketball team travels to Nampa, Idaho to take on Cal State Monterey Bay at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. Then on Saturday, the team faces Stanislaus State at 7:30 p.m.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Cal State Monterey Bay
The Otters struggled throughout the 2017-2018 season, going 6-21 with a 5-17 record in California Collegiate Athletics Association action. They averaged just 55.9 points per game, allowing opponents 65.9 points per game. They allowed opponents to shoot 42.2 from the field and 34.8 percent from three-point range. They hauled in 36.3 rebounds per game. They've turned the ball over 18.1 times per game.
The Otters were picked to finish at the bottom of the CCAA standings, landing in 12
thplace in the preseason coaches' poll. Brianna Tucker returns as the team's leading scoring. She averaged 7.9 points per game. She converted at an 81.5 percent clip from the free-throw line. She's also the team's best returning three-point shooter, knocking down 33.3 percent of her attempts.
Stanislaus State
The Warriors are coming off a season in which they went 16-15, going 13-7 in CCAA play. The team averaged 62.5 points per game, while allowing 62.9 points per game. The Warriors struggle from beyond the arc, knocking down just 27.4 percent of their three-point attempts. They pulled down an average of 36.5 rebounds per game, while coughing up 17.2 turnovers per contest.
The Warriors were picked to finish 10
thin the CCAA preseason coaches' poll. The Warriors graduated their top four point scorers. Three of the four seniors from the 2017-2018 season averaged double figure points. The group contributed a total of 45.6 points per game to the Warriors. Erika Larsen is the team's top returning scorer. The 6'3" center averaged five points per game, while pulling down 4.7 rebounds per game.
LAST TIME OUT
The CWU women's basketball team host Whitman College in an exhibition game last Saturday. It took two overtimes, but the Wildcats outlasted the Blue 80-76.
Big shots reigned supreme for the Wildcats throughout the late stages of Saturday's game. The Wildcats trailed the Blues by three with 11 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Brianna Phiakhamngon dribbled the ball down the court before giving it up to
Kaelie Flores on the left wing. Flores hoisted a contested three-point shot that tickled the twine, tying the game with six seconds left. Mady Burdett missed a wide-open three for the Blues, sending the game into overtime.
The first overtime period was dominated by
Taylor Shaw. Shaw scored nine consecutive points for the Wildcats, none of which were bigger than the final three. With 1:33 left in the first overtime period, the Wildcats trailed by a point. Shaw drove baseline with her left hand. She stopped, spun away from the basket and converted the shot through contact. Shaw added the free-throw, giving the Wildcats a two-point lead. Whitman's Burdett would hit a pair of free-throws that tied the game with 26 seconds left. The Wildcats could not convert, sending the game into a second overtime period.
The Wildcats trailed by one with 3:17 remained in the second overtime period when
Sadie Mensing knocked down a clutch three-pointer. The Blues brought the game to within a point with 1:01 left to play. Flores was at the line for a pair of free-throws. She knocked down the first before the second rimmed out.
Samantha Bowman yanked down a rebound and kicked it out to Shaw for a three. Shaw missed the shot, but Flores was there for the put back. The Wildcats hung on for a tight four-point win.
FROM THE COACH
"Looking forward to heading down to NNU this weekend for our opening weekend conference crossover," head coach
Randi Richardson-Thornley said. "It will be exciting to have the opportunity to compete against two in-region teams and to see how our group has grown thus far while seeing how we can continue to grow moving forward."
NEXT TIME OUT
The Wildcats host a quick two-day tournament feature St. Cloud State University, Cal State San Bernardino and fellow GNAC school Concordia (Ore). The Wildcats play St. Cloud State University on November 16 at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, the team takes on CSU San Bernardino also at 7:30 p.m.
