ELLENSBURG, Wash.—The Central Washington women's basketball team fell 76-54 against the Roadrunners from Metropolitan State University of Denver in the final match of the Central Washington Tournament. The Wildcats will now hit the road for the next four weeks.
 
"We learned a lot about ourselves tonight and where we needed to grow. We have been a good offensive team and on too many occasions have allowed our offense to fuel our defense. We have to be tougher and more disciplined. Credit to Metro who outworked us on both sides of the ball." Said CWU Head Coach Randi Richardson-Thornley.
 
The 'Cats came out shooting like any other game, and a three-point jumper from Tori Maeda had the 'Cats up 3-2 early.
 
The 'Runners offense began to take shape, a free throw from Kizzah Maltezo helped cut the momentum, but they couldn't be stopped and quickly put the 'Cats in a hole, 14-4.
 
 
A pair of mid-range jumpers allowed the 'Runners to tack on four more as the first came to a close, 18-4 in favor of the 'Runners.
 
Kassidy Malcolm gave the 'Cats their first breath of life with back-to-back layups in the post against a tall defense. Claire Heitschmidt and Jenna Troy both found jumpers down low and the 'Cats were back in it 25-13.
 
Kizzah Maltezo showed off the handles cutting through three defenders to drop in the final bucket of the first half, cutting the deficit to 35-15.
 
Samantha Bowman was firing on all cylinders out of the half. An open bucket provided by an empty lane allowed her to drop one in, and she followed it up with another big win in the post. She'd find another pair of buckets alongside free throws to score ten-straight for the 'Cats and keep them in the game, 47-26.
 
Kassidy Malcolm, Amanda Sisul, and Kizzah Maltezo closed out the third on free throws, 52-32 still in favor of the 'Runners.
 
The shooting struggles continued into the fourth until Valerie Huerta found a bucket driving to the rim.
 
As the 'Runners stood strong and began to pull away, Kassidy Malcolm knocked down three-straight three pointers to cut into the deficit, 60-45.
 
Claire Heitshcmidt followed suit knocking down a pair of three-point jumpers around a mid-ranger from the 'Runners.
 
Samantha Bowman knocked down a free throw for the 'Cats final score of the night but shooting struggles could not overcome the deficit. The 'Cats fell to the 'Runners, 76-54.