SEATTLE – The Central Washington University women's basketball team traveled to Seattle for their final game of the regular season. Seattle Pacific played host, as the Wildcats grounded the Falcons 81-65 on Saturday afternoon. 
 
The Wildcats (18-10, 13-7 GNAC) were able to take care of business against the Falcons (8-20, 6-14 GNAC) on Saturday afternoon. As a team, the Wildcats shot 49.2% from the field. They enjoyed great success from beyond the three-point line, knocking down 47.8% of their attempts. Most of the success from beyond the arc came in the first three quarters when the team went 9-17 from deep. Defensively, the Wildcats grounded the Falcons long-range attack.

The home team was only able to convert 31.3% of their three-pointers. The Wildcats also gained an advantage from the free throw line, going 10-12 while the Falcons went 4-6 from the charity stripe. 
 
"Proud of our girls for finishing up the season with four wins and two on the road," CWU Head Coach Randi Richardson-Thornley said. "I thought our offense was really clicking today with shooting 50% from the floor and sharing the ball with 5 people in double digits and knocking down 11 threes. I hope we can gain some confidence come these last couple of weeks and take that into the conference tournament next week."
 
Opening moments between the Wildcats (18-10, 13-7 GNAC) and the Falcons (8-20, 6-14 GNAC) featured back and fourth action. Kassidy Malcolm hit a jumper that gave the Wildcats a 9-6 lead with 6:26 left in the first quarter. Later, Flores would score five consecutive points to put the Wildcats up 14-8 with 4:41 left in the quarter. 
 
Later in the quarter, JonNae Richardson scored five straight points to put the Wildcats up 20-13. Alexis Pana capped a strong first quarter with a jumper. After 10 minutes, the Wildcats led 24-17. 
 
Another Wildcat reached a milestone on Saturday. With 9:23 left in the second quarter, Kaelie Flores pulled down her 500^th career rebound. Flores filled up the score sheet during the first half, splashing home 11 points. 
 
The Falcons worked their way back into the ball game in the opening moments of the second quarter. SPU's Ashley Alter hit a pair of free throws that cut the Wildcat lead to 28-25. 
 
The Wildcats led 30-25 when Pana took over. Pana splashed home a pair of three-pointers and a jumper. Pana's flurry of offense put the Wildcats up 38-27 with 3:34 in the half.  
 
Taylor Shaw took over late in the first half. The senior out of Oregon scored five straight points, putting her team up 43-29. 
 
Brianna Phiakhamngon had a highlight play to end the first half. With time winding down, Phiakhamngon hoisted a three-pointed that hit nothing but net as time expired. The bucket put the Wildcats up 46-31 as the teams went to the break. 
 
Coming out of halftime, the Wildcats maintained a solid lead. Flores opened the half by scoring five straight points. Later in the quarter, Phiakhamngon hit a pair of free throws that put the team up 55-37 with 4:40 left in the quarter. 
 
The third quarter ended on positive note. Shaw sank another three-pointer. The team led 65-49 with 10 minutes left in the game. 
 
The Wildcats opened the fourth quarter with an impressive run. Malcolm split free throws, Pana hit a jumper, and Shaw splashed home another three-pointer to put the team up 71-49. 
 
With 4:03 left in the game, Tori Maeda was fouled on a three-point attempt. She'd go on to make all three of her free throws. Samantha Bowman converted a three-point play on the next possession. The Wildcats would hang on to take the game 81-65.  
 
Pana was electric for the Wildcats. She led everyone with 20 points, while pulling down eight rebounds and dishing out five assists. Flores was excellent, scoring 11 with three rebounds and two assists. Malcolm and Shaw added 11 points each. Shaw played a big role in the team's three-point success, knocking down three during the game. 
 
Up next, the Wildcats head back to Seattle for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference tournament. The six-team, single elimination tournament begins Thursday afternoon. CWU will enter the postseason as the No. 5 seed and face fourth-seeded Simon Fraser University (B.C.). Tip-off is set for Thursday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. inside Brougham Pavilion.