ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington University women's basketball is back in action this Thursday as the team continues a three-game road trip to start 2020. The Wildcats take on Alaska Anchorage.
 
GAME INFORMATION
vs. Alaska Anchorage
Thursday, Jan. 9
6:15 p.m. PT
Alaska Airlines Center
Anchorage, Alaska
 
QUOTABLE
"This will be a good challenge this Thursday in response to last week. UAA plays hard on both ends, wants to dictate the pace, and executes at a high rate offensively," CWU Head Coach Randi Richardson-Thornley said. "We have to match their intensity and commit to playing team defense every possession."
 
SCOUTING ALASKA ANCHORAGE | ROSTER | SCHEDULE | 2019-20 STATS
The Seawolves are 14-1 overall this year, a perfect 4-0 in GNAC play and are currently ranked in the top-10 in a pair of national polls. In the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Poll and D2SIDA National Media Poll UAA sits at the No. 7 spot.
 
The Seawolves lone loss of the year came on Nov. 27, 2019 in a close 53-52 bought at Lynn University. Since the loss, they have won nine straight games, including their first four conference matchups.
 
As a team, UAA ranks near the top in multiple categories in the GNAC. They have the best scoring defense, holding teams to just 51.7 points per game. That mark is also eighth in Division II. UAA is second in the GNAC scoring averaging 78.9 points per game.
 
Helping the Seawolves to a 14-1 mark this year is their scoring margin. They take down opponents by an average of +25.4 points. Their defense holds opponents to 35.1% shooting overall and 27.8% from beyond the arc. Both averages lead the GNAC.
 
Saflyyah Yasin is the leading scorer for UAA with an average of 14.4 points scored per game. She is sixth in the conference in scoring and the only Seawolf in the top-10.
 
Tennae Voliva leads the team in rebounding and is second in the GNAC. She averages 8.7 per game and has 130 on the season in 15 games played. Kimani Fernandez and Yasin are tied for second in rebounding at 3.7 per game, respectively.
 
Yazmeen Goo is the top percentage shooter for UAA at 55.7%. She is also the second leading scorer for the Seawolves averaging 10.6 points per game. She is the only other UAA player averaging double figure points.
 
Goo is also the top ball handler for UAA as she averages 4.2 assists per game and has 59 this season so far. Her average is fourth best in the GNAC. Yasin is the top ball stealer with 2.6 per game and 39 overall. Her average is second in the conference.
 
Three other players are in the top-10 in average steals for the GNAC in Voliva, Goo, and Stephanie Jackson. Voliva is fourth at 2.2, Goo is fifth at 1.9 and Jackson is ninth at 1.8 steals per game, respectively.
 
GNAC STAT LEADERS (As of Jan. 7)
CWU still continues to battle for top spots in a number of statistical categories in the GNAC as they enter the week. Offensively, the team is sixth in scoring at 69.4 points per game and is third in scoring defense allowing just 62.5 points per game.
 
The Wildcats still have the top free throw percentage at 78.3% on 148-189 made shots, a mark that is 14th in Division II. They also lead the GNAC in shooting with an overall field goal percentage of 44.1 and an overall three-point field goal percentage of 35.0.
 
On the defensive side, CWU is third in field goal percentage defense holding its opposition to 37.6% shooting. They are second in three-point field goal percentage defense at 28.7%.
 
In terms of rebounds per game, CWU's average of 40.6 per game is third highest in the GNAC. The Crimson and Black still lead the way in blocked shots with a total of 64 and they average 5.3 per game. Their total blocked shots are 10th in Division II, while their average is 11th.
 
Two players are in the top-10 in the GNAC in scoring led by Kaelie Flores. She averages 13.5 points per game to lead the team and rank ninth in the GNAC. Alexis Pana is the second leading scorer at 13.4 points per game and is 10th in the GNAC.
 
Samantha Bowman is third in rebounding in the GNAC averaging 8.3 per game. Flores is right behind her at fourth with an average of 7.8 per game. Bowman is just outside the top-10 in scoring at 12th averaging 12.8 points per contest.
 
Bowman still as the top shooting percentage in the conference at 57.6%. She is 57-99 from the floor this season in 12 games played. Pana is the GNAC leader in assists at 5.1 per game in 12 games played.
 
Pana, Bowman and Flores all still rank in the top-five in free throw percentage. Pana is second at 87.9%, Bowman is third at 87.5% and Flores is fourth at 85.3%, respectively. Pana is also eighth in the GNAC in steals averaging 1.8 per contest.
 
Flores and Taylor Shaw are third and eighth in the GNAC in three-point shooting, respectively. Flores is 12-19 on the year for 45.2%, while Shaw is 12-25 on the year for 41%. Shaw is tied for fifth in three-point shots made averaging 2.1 per game.

The trio of Flores, Bowman and Pana also rank in the top-five in blocked shots. Flores is the GNAC leader at 1.9 per game, while Bowman is third at 1.5. Pana is tied for fifth with 1.3 blocked shots per game.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Central Washington University women's basketball suffered a tough loss on the road to start the New Year Against Montana State Billings. The Wildcats fell 63-45 to the Yellowjackets.
 
CWU never found a rhythm in the game and shot just 33.3% from the floor. The Yellowjackets shot 41.4% overall to secure the win at home and enter the New Year on a high note.
 
Kassidy Malcolm led the way for CWU scoring 12 points in her first start of the year. Alexis Pana was the only other double figure scorer with 10 points. Samantha Bowman led the way in rebounding with seven.
 
CWU vs. UAA HISTORY
The Wildcats are just 15-34 all-time against Alaska Anchorage in 49 meetings. CWU has also dropped each of its last 10 meetings to the Seawolves and 21 of the last 22 meetings.
 
The last time the CWU handed UAA a loss came in the 2012-13 season on January 19, 2013. The Wildcats won 74-64 on the road. Prior to that win, UAA won 11-straight, and since that loss UAA has won 10-straight.
 
The Seawolves won three straight matchups against the Wildcats last season. The Seawolves ended the Wildcats 2018-19 season in the GNAC Semifinals. Under Head Coach Randi Richardson-Thornley, CWU is 0-5 against UAA.