ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Feb. 5) – The Central Washington University women's basketball team hopes to continue their road success against Montana State University Billings and No. 7 Northwest Nazarene. The Wildcats take on the Yellowjackets on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. PST. The on Monday, the team battles No. 7 Northwest Nazarene.
GAME INFORMATION
Saturday, Feb 16 | 4:15 p.m. PST
at Montana State University Billings
Alterowitz Gymnasium | Billings, Mont.
Watch | Live Stats
Monday, Feb. 18 | 6:00 p.m. PST
at No. 7 Northwest Nazarene
Johnson Sports Center | Nampa, Idaho
Watch | Live Stats
QUOTABLE
"Excited for the challenge of heading on the road to play an outstanding NNU team," CWU head coach Randi Richardson-Thornley said. "Our team learned a lot about NNU and the energy and effort they play with in game one and know we have to be ready to match their effort and enthusiasm on both sides of the ball. We've grown a lot as a group in the last two weeks and we need to have that carry over to Monday night's game."
SCOUTING MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
The Yellowjackets are tied with Concordia (Ore.) for the final spot in the GNAC tournament. The Yellowjackets sport a 6-8 conference record. They'll take on No. 2 Northwest Nazarene before their game against the Wildcats on Saturday.
Hannah Collins is the Yellowjackets best scorer, averaging a conference-best 15.5 points per game. Collins is efficient, making 40.7 percent of her shots. Taylor Cunningham, Vanessa Stavish, and Taryn Shelley averaging double-figures for the Yellowjackets, landing within a point of each other. As a team, the Yellowjackets score 67.5 points per game while allowing 71.6 points per game.
The Wildcats steamrolled the Yellowjackets 93-58 in their first meeting on January 17 in Ellensburg. The Wildcats were led by Flores with a career high 24 points and 4-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc. Kassidy Malcolm added 19 points and eight rebounds, and Pana nearly notched a triple-double with 18 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
SCOUTING NORTHWEST NAZARENE
The Nighthawks are gridlocked with Alaska Anchorage at the top spot in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings, with each team sporting a 13-1 GNAC record. The two teams have already clinched berths in the GNAC tournament. The Nighthawks only loss of the season came at the hands of Simon Fraser on January 26. The Clan outscored the Nighthawks 24-12 in the fourth quarter, including a three-pointer that would prove to be the difference in the 76-73 contest.
The Nighthawks are the best offensive team in the GNAC, leading the conference by averaging 85.7 points per game, shooting 47 percent per game while knocking down 38.9 percent of their three-point attempts. The Nighthawks own a scoring margin of +23, best of any team in the conference. Avery Albrecht leads the team with 13.6 points per game.
In their first meeting on January 15, in Ellensburg, the Nighthawks pulled away from the Wildcats in the second half of the contest. The Nighthawks found their stride in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Wildcats 29-17. Northwest Nazarene finished with 58 of their 89 points coming in the paint. Alexis Pana lead the way for the Wildcat offense with 17 points along with seven assists and three steals. She was four of five from deep and three of three from the charity stripe. Kaelie Flores also had a great game with 13 points to go along with two rebounds, two assists and a block.
LAST TIME OUT
The CWU women's basketball team picked up a pair of road victories over Seattle Pacific and Saint Martin's last weekend. The Wildcats downed the Falcons 74-56 on Thursday before overwhelming the Saints 84-62 on Saturday.
The Wildcats could not miss in the first quarter against the Falcons. As a team, the Wildcats shot 63.3 percent from three-point range, going 7-for-11 for the quarter. The Wildcats led 5-4 with 8:15 left in the quarter when Taylor Shaw knocked down a three-point. It was the first of four-consecutive threes from the Wildcats. Shaw made two in a row, followed by threes from Brianna Phiakhamngon and Malcolm.
The run continued with a bucket from Sadie Mensing, followed by another three-pointer from Phiakhamngon. The quarter ended with yet another three-pointer, this time from Flores.
For as good as their offense was, the Wildcat defense was even better. The team held the Falcons to a field goal percentage of 23.1 percent. The Wildcats owned a 27-8 lead at the end of the first period.
Mensing was spectacular for the Wildcats, leading all players with 25 points. She went 12-for-19 from the field, adding five rebounds, four assists and three steals. The last time the Wildcats swept the Falcons took place during the 2000-2001 season. The Wildcats won 67-55 in on the road before taking the home game 71-62.
Five Wildcats scored in double-figures in their matchup with the Saints. Flores led the way with 17 points on an 8-for-12 shooting performance. Mensing wasn't far behind with 14 points. Pana scored 14 points, 12 of which coming in the first half. Shaw scored 12 points while Malcolm nearly had a double-double, finishing with 11 points and nine rebounds. As a team, the Wildcats shot 57.4 percent for the game, going 35-for-61 from the field.
Mensing earned GNAC Player of the Week honors for her efforts last weekend. Against the Falcons, Mensing was spectacular for the Wildcats, leading all players with 25 points. She went 12-for-19 from the field, adding five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Mensing added 14 points, five rebounds and three assists against the Saints.
