BELLINGHAM, Wash. — The Central Washington University women's basketball team fell to rival Western Washington University, 77-69, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference matchup.

"Credit to Western Washington for playing really well tonight," CWU Head Coach Randi Richardson-Thornley said.  "They were on fire in the first three quarters, shooting about 60 percent and we pretty much threw everything we had in at them.  I'm proud of how our team competed until the end and didn't allow the game to get out of hand."

The Vikings (17-5, 11-5 GNAC) climbed out to a 10-3 lead in the opening four minutes of play.  A three from the Wildcats' (14-10, 9-7 GNAC) Kassidy Malcolm cut the Vikings' early lead to just four, 10-6.

Western once again pushed their lead forward, extending it to eight with 4:35 to play in the opening stanza.  Consecutive buckets from Malcolm and Samantha Bowman once agin cut the deficit to four, 14-10.  A jumper from WWU's Kelsey Rogers was negated on the Wildcats' ensuing possession, when Brianna Phiakhamngon knocked down a trey to make it 16-13 in favor of Western.

As time waned in the first quarter, the Vikings scored the next five points for a 21-13 lead.  On the final possession of the quarter, Alexis Pana drove the lane and picked up the final bucket of the first.  After 10 minutes of play, Central trailed 21-15.

In the first 66 seconds of the second quarter, the Crimson and Black cut Western's lead to two after Taylor Shaw knocked down a three to make it 23-21.  Western extended their lead to 16 over the next six minutes.  During that stretch, the Vikings did not allow a point.  A free throw from Bowman broke the drought for CWU.  At halftime, Central trailed 41-26.  

Western Washington reached a 20-point lead for the first time with 8:34 to play in the third quarter.  A trey from Pana on the Wildcats' next possession put the deficit under 20.  The Vikings reached a game-high 25-point lead with 1:33 remaining in the quarter.

The Vikings relied heavily on close range and mid-range chances, including converting at a 64 percent rate in the second quarter.

In the final quarter of play the Crimson and Black outscored the Vikings, 25-10.  Shaw, JonNae Richardson, and Malcolm combined for the 'Cats first five points of the quarter, all with free throws.  

Richardson then sunk a trey, bringing Western's lead back down to 71-51.  Central was then able to cut into the Vikings' advantage, dropping it to 11 with 1:05 to play on a jumper from Pana.  She also hit the final shot of the game, a three which cut the Viks' lead to 77-69.

Pana finished with a career-high 26 points.  Malcolm finished with another double-double.  She tallied 18 points and 12 rebounds, including four offensive boards.  The Crimson and Black finished with 20 points in the paint, 17 points off turnovers, and 18 second chance points.

Central returns home for their final two contests in Nicholson Pavilion.  Tip-off is scheduled for 5:!5 p.m. on Thursday against Western Oregon.