SEATTLE, Wash.—The Central Washington women's basketball team opened their conference schedule with a close loss to the Seattle Pacific Falcons, 69-65. The Wildcats will now cross the Cascades and head to Billings, Montana for their next challenge.

"We started off slow tonight and made too many mistakes on the defensive end. Proud of how our team battled back. We showed grit and toughness but too little too late. We have to grow in our sense of urgency to value every possession. We take back a couple of our defensive/scout lapses the result potentially could be different. Now lessons have to be learned and we have to be ready to respond against a good MSUB team Saturday." Said CWU Head Coach Randi Richardson-Thornley.

The 'Cats got off to a hot start exchanging three-point blows with the Falcons at the hands of Kizzah Maltezo.

The Falcons went back-to-back on deep jumpers alongside a free throw, but Kassidy Malcolm answered with a pair of scores in the post to tie it up 7-7.

Kassidy Malcolm hit a turnaround jumper just outside the post to put up the final basket of the opening quarter, but the Falcons led it 16-12.

In the second quarter the Falcons came out striking with a nine-point scoring run to extend their lead.

Kizzah Maltezo and Kassidy Malcolm broke the momentum with a pair of jumpers, but the Falcons kept raining the deep ball extending their lead further, 35-19.

Tori Maeda and Kizzah Maltezo both knocked down a pair of free throws before the end of the half as the 'Cats trailed 35-23.

In the third quarter the Falcons picked up where they left off. Kassidy Malcolm scored on a drive to the basket, but the Falcons kept shooting and quickly extended the lead, 46-25.

Kiera Bush came off the bench to give the 'Cats a jumper down low, halting the Falcons shooting momentum. After draining an additional four-straight free throws, Valerie Huerta scored on a drive to the rim.

Kassidy Malcolm and Kizzah Maltezo found back-to-back three-point jumpers and the 'cats were closing the gap, 48-39.

Valerie Huerta answered the Falcons offense jumper-for-jumper, and Kassidy Malcolm drained another three-point bucket to close the gap.

The Falcons tacked on another jumper before the buzzer, and the Falcons led it 52-44 after the third quarter.

Valerie Huerta gave the 'Cats a pair of jumpers to open the scoring in the fourth quarter. The Falcons shots continued to fall, propelling a 62-48 lead.

Tori Maeda and Kassidy Malcolm stepped up with a pair of three-point jumpers, and Jenna Troy followed suit with a drive to the basket to pull within eight, 64-56.

Shaylee Coulter-Fa'amafu knocked down a big three with 0:53 on the clock, and Kassidy Malcolm drained a pair of key free throws to bring the 'Cats within three with 0:20 left to go, 66-63.

Kassidy Malcolm scores a quick bucket on the inbound play with seconds left on the clock, but the Falcons knocked down both free throws to seal the game.

The 'Cats fell to the Falcons, 69-65.