ELLENSBURG, Wash. – After a week away from competition, the Central Washington University women's basketball team returns to non-conference action, as they travel to Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. before heading to Cal State Dominguez Hills on Monday at 5:00 p.m.
GAME INFORMATION
Saturday, Dec. 15 | 2:00 p.m. PST
vs Cal Poly Pomona
Pomona, Calif.
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Live Stats
GAME INFORMATION
Monday, Dec. 17 | 5:00 p.m. PST
vs Cal State Dominguez Hills
Carson, Calif.
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Live Stats
QUOTABLE
"This will be a good challenge for our team to head on the road and face two competitive in-region teams in Cal Poly Pomona and Dominguez Hills," CWU Head Coach
Randi Richardson-Thornley said. "We know the importance of playing our best and taking a step forward in our team's development in finishing out our non-conference schedule and in preparing for GNAC play."
SCOUTING CAL POLY POMONA
The Broncos have experienced an excellent start to their 2018-2019 campaign, racing to a 6-1 start while going 3-0 in California Collegiate Athletic Association play. They'll enter Saturday's game on a five-game winning streaking, having knocked off conference opponent Stanislaus State 75-64 on December 1. Central Washington is the team's final non-conference game of the season. The Broncos are averaging 77.9 points per game, while allowing 65.7 points per contest to their opponents.
The Broncos' Jordyn Shane was named CCAA Player of the Week for her performance from November 26-December 1. Shane led the Broncos to an undefeated CCAA-opening weekend on the road, averaging 25.0 points per game, including a career-high 35 points in the win over Stanislaus State. Including that weekend's 94-64 blowout of San Francisco State, she connected on 19 of 29 shots (.655) and was 10 for 13 (.769) from the free throw line to go along 15 rebounds four steals and three assists.
On the season, Shane leads the team averaging 16.1 points per game. Rebecca Islas averages 15.6 points per game. She's efficient from anywhere on the court, hitting 46.5 percent from the field while knocking down 41.9 percent of her three-point.
SCOUTING CAL STATE DOMINGUEZ HILLS
The Toros have jumped out to a solid start to the season, going 5-2 with a spotless 2-0 record in CCAA play. Both of the team's non-conference losses came at the hands of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Alaska schools. Alaska Fairbanks came out on top 65-61 on November 16 before Alaska Anchorage beat them 69-53 the following day. The Toros have won their last three contests, picking up their latest win 87-70 over Fresno Pacific.
Nautacia Marrow is averaging 11.6 points per game, the most of any Toro who has played in all seven games of the new season. She's gone eight-for-29 from three-point range this season. Lea Anderson may be the team's best three-point threat, shooting 33.3 percent this season. Destinee Williams has pulled down a team high 5.9 rebounds per game, edging out Ahlisha Henderson's 5.5 rebounds per game.
LAST TIME OUT
The CWU women's basketball team split their opening weekend of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play, falling 74-60 to the University of Alaska Anchorage on November 29, before toppling the University of Alaska Fairbanks 76-61 on December 1.
The Wildcats trailed the Seawolves 43-33 entering the third quarter.
Kassidy Malcolm,
Alexis Pana and
Taylor Shaw orchestrated a run that brought the Wildcats to within three of the Seawolves. Unfortunately, that's all the closer the Wildcats would get to taking their first game in GNAC play.
On Saturday, the Wildcats trailed the Nanooks 26-22 with 2:12 remaining in the first half. After a pair of free-throws from Malcolm,
Brianna Phiakhamngon became the spark that the Wildcat offense needed. Phiakhamngon buried a three-pointer off an assist from Shaw. On the next trip down the floor, Phiakhamngon took it to the rack, finishing with a layup.
Samantha Bowman would score on consecutive possessions, capping a 11-0 run to close out the half for the Wildcats. The team would go on to shoot 12-for-16 from the field in the third quarter, before taking the game.
Alexis Pana was unreal for the Wildcats throughout the weekend. The junior from Hilo, Hawaii averaged 19.5 points per game with nine rebounds and seven assists.
WBB D2SIDA POLL UPDATE
The Wildcats are now in sole possession of the number four spot in the D2SIDA Women's Basketball Regional Poll and came in at No. 25 in the D2SIDA Women's Basketball National Media Poll.
NATIONAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS
Central Washington is ranked ninth in Division II in assists per game (18.9) and third in field goal percentage (50.9). Individually,
Alexis Pana is 12
th in Division II for shooting percentage (63.6).
Kassidy Malcolm is 45
th (250 ranked) in rebounds per game (9.6). Both Pana and Malcolm lead the GNAC in their respective categories.
