Fairbanks, Alaska (FEB. 28) – The Central Washington University women's basketball team traveled to Alaska to close out their Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule. The Wildcats opened with a game against Alaska Fairbanks, neutralizing the Nanooks 77-50. 

A slow start from The Wildcats (17-9, 12-7) allowed the Nanooks (4-21, 1-18) to take an early 15-4 lead. After a timeout, Central began battling to eliminate the UAF lead.

"Fairbanks came out and set the tone early in the first quarter," CWU head coach Randi Richardson-Thornley said. "I'm proud of how our team didn't panic, stayed composed and responded."

Kaelie Flores made it a one-point game after netting a short jump shot with under a minute to play in the first quarter. On the ensuing possession, Alexis Pana jumped in the passing lane and stole the ball and went coast to coast to give the Wildcats their first lead of the game with 0:22 left in the first quarter.

Central didn't look back from that point on. The Wildcats opened up the second quarter going on a 13-2 run. The run included two three-point shots from Pana as well as one from Taylor Shaw. Flores also chipped in a bucket.

The Wildcats dominated both ends of the floor racking up three steals and six defensive rebounds and closing out the half by score of 40-31.

Coming out of the break, the Wildcats continued to dominate. They opened up the half going on an 8-4 run. Central scored 42 points in the paint and forced 16 turnovers in the game. Seven of the 40 rebounds that the Wildcats grabbed were on the offensive end.

Four Wildcats reached double figures in scoring. Pana lead the way with 15 points, Kassidy Malcolm had 13 points. Sadie Mensing and JonNae Richardson each had 12 points on the night. The Wildcats shot 47.8% from the field on the night and went a perfect six-for-six from the free-throw line.

As a team, the Wildcats dished out 19 assists as a team lead by Mensing and Shaw who each had five. Richardson, Pana, and Shaw each had two steals on the night. Flores provided rim protection on the night gathering two of the teams four blocked shots.

"Happy with how we bucked down and defended and finished possessions with rebounds," Richardson-Thornley said. "Our bench gave us some good minutes tonight as well." 

The Wildcats close out their regular season schedule with a game against the University of Alaska Anchorage on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. PST.