Billings, Mont. (FEB. 16) – A large second half push from the Central Washington University women's basketball team lifted them past the Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets 82-45 on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Wildcats (15-7, 10-5) outscored the Yellowjackets (10-12, 6-10) 46-15 in the second half of Saturday's contest. The Wildcats received massive contributions from their bench, as it blitzed the Yellowjacket bench 36-11. The bench was led by JonNae Richardson who scored a game-high 15 points and had 10 rebounds on the game. The Wildcats also shared the ball well, dishing out 21 assists to the Yellowjackets' 6. The Wildcat defense stifled the Yellowjackets, holding them to a 16-for-69 shooting percentage for the game. No Yellowjacket scored in double-figures.

"Very proud of how our team responded in the second half," CWU head coach Randi Richardson-Thornley said. "Our energy and communication was much better on the defensive end which I felt then translated to offense. Happy with how we got back to sharing the ball and trusting one another on offense." 
 
The Wildcats trailed 11-5 early against the Yellowjackets with 4:29 left to play in the first quarter. Richardson provided a spark off the bench for the Wildcats. Richardson knocked down the team's first three-pointer of the game with 3:25 left in the period. It was the start of a 9-5 run that pulled the Wildcats to within two at the end of the quarter. 
 
The game was tied at 24 with 5:30 left to play in the half. Kaelie Flores drained a three-pointer. She'd go on to score six-straight points. Sadie Mensing added a jumper, followed by Richardson and Taylor Shaw. The 12-6 run gave the Wildcats a 36-30 lead at halftime. 
 
The Wildcats led 40-36 in the third quarter when the team put together a short 6-0 run. The run started with a bucket from Kassidy Malcolm, followed by one from Shaw and was capped by a layup from Alexis Pana. A timeout with 4:50 left in the quarter didn't halt the run from the Wildcats. In total, the team went on an 11-0 that lasted 4:10. The Wildcats maintained their lead through the fourth quarter to pick up the win. 
 
Malcolm was excellent for the Wildcats, picking up her sixth double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Shaw tied Malcolm with 13 points of her own. Mensing also scored in double figures with 11 points and six rebounds. Pana poured in 10 points. 

"This was a very balanced game for our team with five players scoring in double figures," Richardson-Thornley added. "We can be a tough team to defend when we can share the scoring load like we did tonight. Very happy for our team." 

The Wildcats are the road for a game against No. 7 Northwest Nazarene on Monday at 7:00 p.m.