SALT LAKE CITY – The Central Washington Wildcats continued their hot start to the season taking on the Metropolitan State University Roadrunners to open the Westminster Tournament with an outstanding 95-76 victory.
QUOTE FROM HEAD COACH RANDI RICHARDSON-THORNLEY
"We learned a lot more about ourselves tonight. I love how unselfish and dynamic our offense was in moments. We need to hold onto and build upon that. Sunny gave us a major lift tonight and provided us with the confidence we needed with Sam out of the game in the first half with two fouls. We have to be better defensively in a lot of ways, but I like this teams resolve and want to grow. Tomorrow will be another great test for us."
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first quarter was a very tight-knit contest with both teams shooting over 40% from the field and over 30% from three. Valerie "Sunny" Huerta took the reins in the first quarter for CWU scorching 16-points including four three-pointers. However, the 'Cats only led by two points 23-21 to end the first.
The 'Cats came roaring into the second quarter putting up 33 points to help separate themselves from the Roadrunners to go into half up 56-46. Huerta dropped in 12 more points with two more three-pointers to add to her total.
Claire Heitschmidt provided a huge boost off the bench for CWU adding 11 points and dropping three threes' just in the second quarter.
Coming out of the half the 'Cats were looking to retain and build upon their lead, and they did just that. A layup and one by Huerta followed by a jumper and a free throw by Ashley Schow gave the crimson and black their biggest lead of the game at 62-46 partway through the third quarter. Huerta added nine more points to her total, while after getting into some foul trouble in the first half,
Samantha Bowman came onto the scene adding four points and rebounds each, two assists, and one block in the third quarter.
Back-to-back three-pointers by Heitschmidt and Malia Smith followed by a jumper by Schow finally put the Wildcats over the 20-point lead mark with just under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter. Back-to-back Fastbreak layups by Bowman and Schow saw the 'Cats eclipse the 90-point mark for the first time this season as CWU would cruise the rest of the way to the victory.
The Wildcats shot a scorching hot 55.6% from the field and 48.5% from three while nailing 16 three-pointers in the win. Huerta led all scores dropping 37 points, going 14/19 from the field and 6/7 from three. Heitschmidt followed with 14 points including her own four three-pointers. Schow finished with 11 points and Bowman added ten points and ten rebounds to make her double-doubles for the season already to three games. The 'Cats outrebounded MSU 40-30.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will conclude their participation in the Westminster Tournament tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. against the hosting Westminster Griffins (2-0) in Behnken Field House.
