FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Central Washington University women's basketball picked up a hard-fought win Saturday afternoon on the road as they defeated Alaska Fairbanks 68-65. The win snaps a three-game skid for the Wildcats.
 
Helping the Wildcats (8-6, 3-3 GNAC) secure the win was a 57.1 shooting percentage in the second half. Playing a big role in the win was the play of Kaelie Flores who scored 14 points in the fourth quarter alone to lead the charge.
 
The Crimson and Black got help in other areas as well in the win as they had a 12-8 edge in bench points to go along with a 44-28 advantage in points in the paint. UAF (6-5, 1-9 GNAC) won the turnover battle 12-18 but CWU scored 16 points off turnovers, while UAF had just 12.

"I'm super proud of how our team responded to some unexpected adversity and early foul trouble. They stayed the course, stayed together, and kept playing hard," CWU Head Coach Randi Richardson-Thornley said. "Each player tonight found a way to step up in different moments when we needed them to."
 
The first quarter belonged to the Nanooks who managed to close out the frame with a 10-4 run to lead 21-14. It was a high scoring affair right out the gate. The Wildcats grabbed their first lead 10-9 on the merit of Kassidy Malcolm getting a put back layup.
 
The Wildcats had opportunities to open the lead up during the first, but managed just one more lead in the quarter. UAF responded to go up 11-10 before CWU retook the lead 12-11. The offense then stalled the rest of the first and managed just two points, while UAF put up 10 to lead by seven.
 
CWU came out to start the second with a 6-0 run that helped get the game within one point, 21-20. The spurt happened with in the first three minutes of play to keep the Wildcats in reach. Brianna Phiakhamngon nailed a triple with 7:08 to play in the quarter to cut the score to 21-20.
 
The Nanooks answered the Wildcats run by scoring seven unanswered to go up 28-20 with just under four minutes to play. Tori Maeda ended the UAF run with a three-pointer at the 3:40 mark to cut the Wildcats deficit to five, 28-23.
 
UAF once again closed out the quarter with another strong offensive surge to take a 37-29 lead into the break. The Nanooks outscored the 9-6 in the final 3:40 of play to take the eight-point lead into the break. Helping the Nanooks hold the lead was the help of the 8-0 run to counter the Wildcats.
 
Shooting belonged to UAF who went 14-32 from the floor for 42.4%, while its defense held CWU to 36% shooting on 9-15 made shots. Points in the paint payed the biggest role in the first 20 minutes as UAF outscored CWU 36-28.
 
The opening half of the third quarter fell in the favor of the Wildcats as they pieced together an 11-2 run to grab their first lead since the opening quarter. Phiakhamngon and Malcolm each scored four in the run to give CWU a 40-39 lead with 5:29 to play.
 
The fast start to the second half played a role for the Wildcats as they ultimately outscored the Nanooks 17-7 in the third. The surge by the Crimson & Black helped them take a 46-44 lead into the fourth. JonNae Richardson led CWU with 10 points after three.
 
The final 10 minutes of action came all the way down to the wire as neither team led by more than one possession. The Wildcats had balanced scoring in the first three quarters of play to stay in the game. Enter Flores, who scored 14 in the fourth quarter alone to lead the CWU charge.

"We're proud of Kaelie [Flores] for responding positively to early foul trouble and coming in ready in the fourth. Her play was a huge factor in why we were able to pull this one out," Coach Richardson-Thornley added.
 
Both squads continued to trade made shots in the first half of the fourth and it showed. At the 5:00 mark of the quarter, the game was deadlocked at a 54-54 tie. Patience was the theme for both teams as they traded the lead until there was just 24 seconds left to play.
 
UAF led 64-63 but it was the merit of Flores that gave CWU the lead on a tough layup to make it 65-64. CWU then got a steal on the next possession from Maeda and the Wildcats used free throws to ice the game, 68-65.
 
Three Wildcats finished with double figure points led by Flores with 18. She shot 7-8 from the floor overall and was a clean 4-4 at the free throw line. Phiakhamngon and Richardson scored 11 points, respectively. Richardson was second in rebounds with six on the afternoon. Symone Brown had a game-high seven rebounds in 18 minutes of play off the bench.
 
Taylor Shaw and Malcolm each chipped in eight points to help the offense out. Shaw also had a game-high four assists, while Malcolm tied Richardson in rebounds with six. Offensively, CWU shot 47.2% for the game, while the defense held UAF to 39% shooting for the afternoon.

"Our freshmen came through big," Coach Richardson-Thornley said. "Symone [Brown] had a huge 3rd quarter for us and did such a good job defensively and rebounding wise. Tori [Maeda] was composed the whole game and hit a big shot late. Jenna [Troy] gave us great minutes and also had a big bucket for us as well."
 
The Wildcats have just two home games in the month of January, both of which are next week. CWU will take on in-state rival Western Washington in the first game on Thursday, Jan. 16. Tip-off is set for 5:15 p.m. inside Nicholson Pavilion.