ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Feb. 21) – The Central Washington University women's basketball team closes out the regular season with a pair of home games against the University of Alaska and the University of Alaska Anchorage.
GAME INFORMATION
Thursday at 7:00 p.m. vs Alaska |
Live Stats / Video
Saturday at 7:00 p.m. vs Anchorage |
Live Stats / Video
PLAYOFFS GUARANTEED
The Wildcats earned their asterisk in the GNAC table last week. They join Alaska Anchorage, Northwest Nazarene, Seattle Pacific, and Montana State Billings as teams that have clinched a playoff berth. There is only one spot remaining as Simon Fraser, Western Washington, Concordia (Ore.), and Western Oregon.
SCOUTING ALASKA
The Nanooks are winless in GNAC play this year, including an 0-9 record on the road. Last week, the Nanooks fell to both Saint Martin's and Seattle Pacific.
Alaska is averaging 56.5 points per game, while allowing opponents to score at a clip of 67.1. The Nanooks have only shot 1.4 percent worse than opponents, however, converting at a clip of 37.5 percent compared to their opponents' clip of 38.9. They average only three less baskets per game and are only behind in threes by one per contest.
Lexi Carpenter leads Alaska's scoring, averaging 12.9 points per game. She is the only player averaging 10 or more points in a game. Behind Carpenter, Emily Evans sits second at 8.7 points per game.
Josie Sewell leads the Nanooks in rebounds with 103 and averages 4.7 per game. Josie Sewell leads in rebounding average at 6.7, but she has played in only 13 games. Sewell did not play last week and did not play in early season non-conference games.
SCOUTING ALASKA ANCHORAGE
The Seawolves enter the week with a 24-2 record, including a 17-1 mark in GNAC play. They have not lost since January 20, when they fell at Seattle Pacific 66-48. The first time Anchorage met the Wildcats, the Seawolves came away with a 70-58 victory.
The Seawolves are currently the top ranked seed in the West region. They are ahead of Azusa Pacific (24-3) and Hawaii Pacific (22-2). Northwest Nazarene (20-3) sits in the fourth spot.
Hannah Wandersee leads the scoring and rebounding for Anchorage. She averages 13.5 points per game and 6.5 rebounds. Shelby Cloninger is close on her heels, averaging 13.3 points per game and 6.3 rebounds.
The Seawolves rank 25
th in NCAA Division II in scoring offense (77), 22
nd in scoring margin (22), and 10
th in turnover margin (7.46).
STATISTICAL RANKING
The Wildcats rank in the top 50 in the NCAA Division II in blocked shots (107). The NCAA ranks 300 programs for Division II women's basketball and the Wildcats are ranked 88
th in scoring offense (70.7).
Jasmin Edwards ranks 38
th in assists with 119. Edwards became the first player in program history to amass 500 career assists. She also eclipsed 1,000 points on the season. Edwards is now the all-time CWU leader in assists (549), assists per game (5.0), games played (110), games started (108), and minutes (4,020). This season, Edwards ranks 18
th in Division II with 934 minutes played.
SENIOR SENDOFF
The Wildcats will honor seniors
Jasmin Edwards,
Taylor Baird,
Rachel Lorentson,
Beverly Verduin, and
Qua'Shaya Hammon prior to tip-off on Saturday.
