TURLOCK, Calif.—The Central Washington women's basketball team took down the Pioneers from Cal State East Bay 68-55 to finish the CCAA-GNAC Crossover unbeaten.
 
"Very happy to open up the season with two wins. Both of these games we had to grind out but our team showed some grit and determination that will help our growth. Today we needed to be better in a lot of ways and we were able to take steps forward in our offensive production and our ability to defend in the paint." Said CWU Head Coach Randi Richardson-Thornley.  

The barrage of jumpers from beyond the arc alongside Kizzah Maltezos 25-point game propelled the 'Cats to close out the CCAA-GNAC Crossover with their second straight win.

"Samantha Bowman had another monster night offensively and defensively. Kizzah Maltezo stepped up tonight on both ends. She took some big time charges and hit some big buckets. Proud of this group and now time to grow from here." 

The first quarter was a slow start for both teams. The 'Cats struck first on a driving layup from Kizzah Maltezo, but the Pioneers answered with a jumper from beyond the arc. Kassidy Malcolm fought through the double team in the post and the 'Cats were ahead 4-3.

The Pioneers took advantage of back-to-back turn overs by the 'Cats and retook the lead, 7-4.

Kizzah Maltezo drained an open shot from beyond the arc to cut the deficit, but the Pioneers had taken advantage of a few matchups and reextended their lead 14-7.

Valeria Huerta gave the 'Cats a pair of layups late in the quarter, and it was Kizzah Maltezo with another deep jumper to tie it at 14.

Kassidy Malcolm drained a pair of free throws, but the Pioneers found one last bucket before the first quarter closed out in favor of the Pioneers, 16-15.

The 'Cats kept the shooting going, Kizzah Maltezo and Tori Maeda hit back-to-back jumpers from beyond the arc to retake the lead, 21-16.

The Pioneers found a deep jumper, but Samantha Bowman answered with one of her own to hold the 'Cats lead at five, 24-19.

A jumper from the Pioneers allowed them to break twenty, but a barrage of deep jumpers from Samantha Bowman and Kizzah Maltezo had the 'Cats in the drivers seat, 31-21.

The Pioneers scored another, but the first half came to a close with the 'Cats in front, 31-24.

Samantha Bowman and Jenna Troy opened the third quarter with back-to-back threes keeping the 'Cats in front 37-26.

The Pioneers offense found some traction, cutting the lead down to seven but Kassidy Malcolm followed a Samantha Bowman layup with another deep ball holding the lead at ten. The 'Cats were in front, 42-32.

Kizzah Maltezo gave the 'Cats another basket on a driving layup, and two more deep jumpers including one from Samantha Bowman at the buzzer put the 'Cats ahead 50-37 to close out the third quarter.

It was a quite opening to the fourth quarter until the 'Cats exploded with a pair of buckets from Kassidy Malcolm and Samantha Bowman. The Pioneers began to make a push, cutting the deficit to 55-48 in favor of the 'Cats.

The Pioneers the pressure on the 'Cats late in the fourth. A pair of jumpers helped them fight back, but ten consecutive made free throws by the 'Cats shut the doors on this one. The 'Cats took the win, 68-55.