ELLENSBURG, Wash.—The Central Washington women's basketball team is headed to Bellingham to take on the undefeated No. 5 ranked Vikings from Western Washington (10-0, 2-0). Neither team has seen action since winning on the 30^th of December prior to the new year.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

QUOTABLE
"We are excited to have the opportunity to play this week! WWU is a great team on both sides of the ball and will present some of the biggest challenges we have seen this season. They are talented, disciplined, and tough. We will have to put together full 40 minutes in order to compete with them." Said CWU Head Coach Randi Richardson-Thornley.

CHALLENGING THE UNBEATEN
The Vikings (10-0, 2-0) are returning to the court after a 70-52 win over GNAC opponent Western Oregon.

As of the Women's Basketball Coaching Association's poll on January 11^th, the Vikings have climbed two positions to the No. 5 spot.

As a team the Vikings lead the GNAC in scoring defense (49.7), scoring margin (+22.1), field goal percentage (.475), 3-point FG percentage (.343), and rebounding margin (+11.5). Leading the charge for the Vikings is senior Emma Duff. The 6' 0" guard leads the roster in points per game (14.0), rebounds per game (7.5), and steals with 14.

The Vikings run a well-balance roster with nine players making an appearance in all ten games, and each active player making an appearance in six. Opponents have been held to just a 31.8 shooting percentage from the field, including an even more staggering 20.5 percent from beyond the arc.

LAST TIME IN 2021
The Wildcats (8-4, 1-2) will head to Bellingham after almost two-weeks off due to postponements. The Wildcats last match was a dominating 89-63 win over Whitworth in Nicholson.

Kizzah Maltezo led the 'Cats with 26 points shooting an astounding 10-14 from the field and 6-9 from beyond the arc. Kassidy Malcolm followed Maltezo with 22 points on 8-13 from the field, 4-5 from beyond the arc and a perfect 2-2 from the charity stripe. Twelve different Wildcats saw action with a minimum of eleven minutes, a huge stride for the 'Cats as they continue to build confidence and experience in the bench.

The 'Cats lead the GNAC in 3-point field goals made per game (9.2) and will definitely have their hands full with the strong Viking defense.

Kizzah Maltezo (18.8) leads the 'Cats big-three as the GNAC's leading scorer. Samantha Bowman (17.7) sits just behind her in the No. 2 spot alongside being the GNAC's leading rebounder (15.5). Kassidy Malcolm (16.9) sits just behind the two just under a basket, and together the 'Cats big-three hold three of the top-five scoring positions in the GNAC.

FAN POLICY PER WESTERN WASHINGTON
Western Washington has extended the no fan policy for WWU Athletic Events through January 23^rd.

SCHEDULE NOTES
Centrals game against Alaska Fairbanks (Jan. 8) has been rescheduled to an away contest taking place on February 2^nd, at 6:15 p.m. in Fairbanks.

Centrals game against Alaska Anchorage (Jan. 10) has been rescheduled and will remain a home contest on Monday, February 21^st at 5:15 p.m.

A make-up date for the match at Simon Fraser (Jan. 15) has yet to be announced.