ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Jan. 8) – After picking up a pair of road wins, the Central Washington University women's basketball team starts a four-game homestand. Thursday, the team takes on Saint Martin's before hosting Seattle Pacific on Saturday. Both games are scheduled to start at 5:15 p.m.
GAME INFORMATION
Thursday, Jan. 10 | 5:15 p.m. PST
vs. Saint Martin's
Nicholson Pavilion | Ellensburg, Wash.
Watch |
Live Stats
GAME INFORMATION
Saturday, Jan. 12 | 5:15 p.m. PST
vs. Seattle Pacific
Nicholson Pavilion | Ellensburg, Wash.
Watch |
Live Stats
QUOTABLE
"After a week on the road I'm happy to be coming home for a 4 game home stretch," CWU Head Coach
Randi Richardson-Thornley said. " This is a big week in our conference as wins or loses can start to create some separation within the standings. Just like every game in the GNAC we need to take one at a time and prepare ourselves to be our best Thursday and then Saturday after that. Our team is excited to back on our home floor, playing in front of our home fans with our band, and have an opportunity to support our men's team as well."
SCOUTING SAINT MARTIN'S
Saint Martin's finished 10
th in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference a season ago. They went 4-16 in conference while sporting an 8-20 overall record. The Saints were picked to finish ninth in this year's GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Four starters returned to the team, highlighted by Saniah Simpson-Patu and Mekenna Shultz. Simpson averaged 14.1 points per game, while Schultz added 13.3.
The team has experienced a slow start this season, going 4-9 while owning a 1-3 conference records. The team picked up an 81-68 win over Concordia (Ore.) on December 1. Entering Thursday's game, the team hopes to halt a three-game losing streak.
As expected, Simpson-Patu and Schults have been carrying the Saints offense. Simpson-Patu is scoring 16 points per game, shooting an outstanding 41 percent from the field. She's second on the team in rebounds, pulling down 5.4 boards per game. Schultz is scoring 13.9 points per game. She can score from deep, hitting 35.9 percent of three-point attempts.
SCOUTING SEATTLE PACIFIC
Seattle Pacific made a run at the conference title a year ago, earning a third-place finish. The Falcons went 15-5 in conference play, while holding a 23-8 overall record. The Falcons lost WBCA All-American and First Team All-GNAC player Jordan McPhee, Second Team ALL-GNAC player Courtney Hollander and All-GNAC Honorable Mention Rachel Shim. Longtime head coach Julie Heisey has also stepped away from the program. The subtractions have netted the Falcons seventh place in the GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Riley Evans was a unanimous selection for the All-GNAC team. She was a top scorer for last year's team. The Falcons added three transfers, highlighted by Kaprice Boston from Northern Arizona.
The Falcons have started this season going 4-7, but hold a 3-1 conference record. They've picked up conference wins over Concordia (Ore.), Western Oregon and Saint Martin's. Before playing the Wildcats, the Falcons have a tough matchup against No. 6 Northwest Nazarene on Thursday.
Evans is carrying the load of the Falcons offense. She's averaging 14.8 points per game, shooting 42.4 percent from the floor. CiCi West is the team's second leading scorer, averaging 11 points per game. West does her damage in the paint, having never attempted a three-point shot this season. West leads the team with 9.3 rebounds per game, five boards more than the next closest Falcon.
LAST TIME OUT
The CWU women's basketball team swept the weekend, beating Western Oregon 78-65 on Thursday before toppling Concordia (Ore.) 66-58 on Saturday.
The Wildcats and Wolves traded points throughout the entirety of the first half. The half featured five ties and eight lead changes.
Alexis Pana hit a three-pointer that gave the Wildcats a 32-30 lead. That basket would be the first of a 14-5 run that lasted the final 3:33 of the first half. Pana and
Kassidy Malcolm hit a pair of three-pointers each during the run that was capped by a fast-break lay in from
Samantha Bowman. The Wildcats carried a 43-35 lead into the break.
Central continued to pour in three-pointers in the third quarter.
Kaelie Flores netted a three to open the scoring in the second half.
Taylor Shaw added one of her own on the Wildcats next possession. Later in the quarter,
Aliyah Pana got in on the act, hitting a shot from long range.
Brianna Phiakhamngon cashed in from deep with 2:51 remaining in the half. The Wildcats closed out the quarter with a 63-47 lead. They'd take the game 78-65 powered by a 14-for-26 performance from three-point range.
With 6:54 left in Saturday's first half,
Sadie Mensing made a backdoor cut that gave her enough space to bank in a layup, cutting the Cavalier lead to 19-17. The basket sparked an 17-4 run for the Wildcats that featured baskets from Pana, Phiakhamngon,
Samantha Bowman and Shaw. The Wildcat defense was fierce throughout the first holding, holding the Cavaliers to a 21.7 shooting percentage in the half. The Wildcats held a 32-25 lead going into the break.
The Cavaliers shooting struggles disappeared in the second half against the Wildcats. The home team mustered a 17-7 run that lasted nearly entirety of the quarter. Mensing kept the Wildcats in the game, scoring seven of the team's 12 points in the quarter. In the closing seconds, Shaw nailed a three-pointer that gave the Wildcats a 42-44 lead heading into the final period.
Concordia led 48-46 with 7:15 left in the game, when a three-pointer from Flores ignited a pivotal run. It was a 12-3 run that lasted 5:12, capped by a three-pointer from Shaw. Shaw went 3-for-4 from three-point range, with each bucket coming at the most opportune time. The Wildcats were able to fend off the Cavaliers for a 62-58 win.
Alexis Pana was named GNAC Player of the Week. She scored 33 points, had 14 assists, grabbed 12 rebounds and had four steals on the weekend.
WBB D2SIDA POLL UPDATE
The Wildcats own the number five spot in the D2SIDA Women's Basketball Regional Poll.
