ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Jan. 30) – The Central Washington University women's basketball team opens their second trip through the Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule with a pair of home games this weekend. On Thursday, the team hosts Concordia (Ore.) at 7:00 p.m. On Saturday, the Wildcats host Western Oregon at 2:00 p.m.
GAME INFORMATION
Thursday, Jan. 31 | 7:00 p.m. PST
vs. Concordia (Ore.)
Nicholson Pavilion | Ellensburg, Wash.
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Live Stats
Saturday, Feb 2 | 2:00 p.m. PST
vs. Western Oregon
Nicholson Pavilion | Ellensburg, Wash.
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Live Stats
QUOTABLE
"Looking forward to this week and building on Saturday's defensive effort," CWU head coach
Randi Richardson-Thornley said. "This is a big week as we head into the second half of conference season. In order to be successful this week and the second half we have to continue to improve defensively, rebound and have an eagerness to compete each night."
SCOUTING CONCORDIA (ORE.)
The Cavaliers find themselves in the middle of the pack in the GNAC at the midway point of the season. They own a 4-6 conference record. The team is riding the momentum of two conference wins over Western Oregon and Montana State University Billings last week. The Cavaliers topped the Wolves 65-61 on Tuesday before dropping the Yellowjackets 65-59 on Thursday.
Olivia Vezaldenos, Keesha Sarman and Kizzah Maltezo are averaging double figures in points for the Cavaliers this season. Vezaldenos leads the group with 14.9 points per game, third most in conference. Sarman is the team's leading rebounder, pulling down 7.6 boards per game.
The first meeting between the two teams happened on January 5, in Portland, Oregon. The Wildcats held the Cavaliers to a 26 percent shooting effort and would go on to take the game 66-58.
Kaelie Flores led the Wildcats with 16 points and seven rebounds.
Alexis Pana poured in 15 points, sinking a pair of three-pointers in the game.
SCOUTING WESTERN OREGON
The Wolves sit in ninth place in GNAC standings, touting a 3-7 conference record. They've dropped four of their last five games, picking up a 79-50 win against Alaska Fairbanks on January 19. Before taking on the Wildcats, the Wolves head to No. 3 Northwest Nazarene on Thursday.
Natalie DeLonge leads the club with 13.9 points per game. She also leads the team with 6.8 rebounds per contest. Keyonna Jones aids the scoring load by contributing 8.8 points per game.
The three-point shot reign supreme in the Wildcats' first meeting with the Wolves on January 3. The Wildcats shot 53.8 percent (14-for-26) from deep, taking the game 78-65.
Kassidy Malcolm led the group with a double-double, scoring 20 points while grabbing 13 rebounds. She knocked down four three-pointers, tying Pana for the game high.
LAST TIME OUT
The Wildcats split a pair of road GNAC contests last weekend. On Thursday, the fell 79-69 at Simon Fraser before taking down Western Washington 76-61 on Saturday.
On Thursday, the Clan used an 11-4 fourth quarter run to secure the game against the Wildcats. The Wildcats struggle from three-point range, going 3-for-14 for the game.
Sadie Mensing had a strong night for the Wildcats, scoring 14 points while leading the team with eight rebounds.
On Saturday, the Wildcats defended well against the Vikings, holding them to a 32.8 field goal percentage for the game.
Kassidy Malcolm put together an outstanding night for the Wildcats. Malcolm poured in 18 points while nearly picking up a double-double with nine rebounds.
WBB D2SIDA POLL UPDATE
The Wildcats own the number six spot in the D2SIDA Women's Basketball Regional Poll.
NOTEABLE CWU GNAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS
· 2nd in scoring offense – 77.0 points per game
· 3rd in scoring margin - +8.6
· 2
nd in field goal percentage – 47.8%
· 1
st in field goal percentage defense – 39.0%
· 2
nd in three-point percentage – 36.8%
· 3
rd in three-point defense – 30.2%
· 1
st in blocked shots – 4.6 per game
· 2
nd in assists – 18.0 per game
· 2
nd in assist/turnover ratio – 1.2
· 3
rd in defensive rebounds – 25.8
NOTEABLE IDIVIDUAL GNAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS
Alexis Pana – Tied for 1st in Scoring – 14.9 per game
Alexis Pana – 2nd in Field Goal Percentage – 55.0%
Alexis Pana – 1
st in Assists – 5.6 per game
Alexis Pana – 1
st in three-point percentage – 52.1%
Alexis Pana – Tied for 4
th in Steals – 2.4 per game
Kassidy Malcolm – 2
nd in Rebounding – 8.5 per game
Kassidy Malcolm – 1
st in Defensive Rebounds – 6.5 per game
Taylor Shaw – 8
th in Three-Pointers Made – 36/2.1 per games
Kaelie Flores – 3
rd in Blocked Shots – 1.7 per game
