YAKIMA, Wash. – The Central Washington Wildcats women's basketball team (9-1) defeated the Whitman Blues (6-4) on the campus of Yakima Valley Community College Saturday afternoon by a 79-52 final. 
 
QUOTE FROM HEAD COACH RANDI RICHARDSON-THORNLEY
 
"Very happy with our ability tonight to keep consistent effort and intensity for 40 minutes and proud of our effort on the boards. I'm extremely proud of Sam and her 31 rebound effort to break the GNAC record. Sam has been so unconditionally committed to our program and her personal development these past five years that these records mean a lot to our program and staff for her sake. She has worked for it and deserved it. Her rebounding ability is something that is rare, but Sam and her approach, selflessness, and love for the game and competition is rare. She deserves this and I'm so happy for her that she was able to do it and take the record solely in her hands to be etched in the record books."
 
QUOTE FROM SENIOR CENTER SAMANTHA BOWMAN ON BREAKING REBOUNDING RECORDS
 
"Honestly, I couldn't have done it without the help of the guards. They do such a great job finding me in almost every possession and giving me great passes. I also want to shout out Kiera Bush. I go against her every day in practice, and I can wholeheartedly say she has helped me become a better, more physical player. Constantly going hard in everything, especially rebounds, really helps me prepare for games and push me to pursue the ball every time."
 
THE RECORDS…SHATTERED
 
With tonight's 31-rebound performance Samantha Bowman has broken not only the Central Washington single-game rebound record, but also the Great Northwest Athletic Conference single-game rebound record and has tied for eighth-best single-game rebound in the history of the NCAA Division 2 women's basketball. With 12 offensive rebounds on the night Bowman has also tied the GNAC single-game record for offensive rebounds. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The game started as a back-n-forth affair as both teams traded baskets on their opening possessions. However, a back-to-back three-pointer and layup by the Lady Blues saw Whitman take the early 7-4 lead with 6:46 remaining in the first quarter. A layup by Bowman and a three-pointer by Tori Maeda pushed the 'Cats back in front 9-7 with 5:44 left in the first quarter. Claire Heitschmidt came off the bench and immediately made an impact for the crimson and black providing five points and a huge defensive effort help CWU take control to end the first quarter 24-14. 
 
The Blues struck first in the second quarter, but it didn't last long as huge defensive efforts would keep the 'Cats with the ball. Valerie Huerta "Sunshine" would see the first of her seven free throws swish in for the Wildcats first points of the second quarter at the 8:47 mark. Back-to-back three-pointers by Bowman and Riley Johnson push the Wildcat lead to 18 (34-16) with 5:52 left in the half. Sunshine nailed two more free throws to push the 'Cats to a 20-point lead for the first time on the night. Sunshine and Asher Cai took care of business offensively for the rest of the half setting CWU up 43-25 going into the half. 
 
Ashley Schow started things off in the second half with back-to-back layups while sunshine would add a jumper to give the 'Cats their biggest lead on the night at that point, 49-25. Sunshine continued her hot streak nailing a three and the and-one immediately following to put the 'Cats over the 50-point mark (53-29.) Cai and Johnson got in on the fun adding their own layups before Sunshine finished off the quarter with a four-point effort in 32 seconds to give the 'Cats a comfortable 61-39 lead going into the fourth quarter.
 
Bowman started the 'Cats scoring in the fourth off with back-to-back layups which was responded with a jumper and a three by Sunshine. Bowman and Cai would trade baskets as Bowman continued her climb to shatter rebounding records. Maeda finished the game off with a five-point stretch over 45 seconds to secure the 79-52 victory. 
 
Sunshine led all scores with 24 points, while going a perfect seven for seven from the free throw line. Bowman's double-double number on the season climbed to nine with a 31 rebound, 19-point game. Both Bowman and Sunshine led the 'Cats with five assists each. Cai and Maeda rounded out the double-digit scorers for CWU with 12 and 10 points each, respectively. The crimson and black shot 43.8 percent from the floor including a 32 percent effort from three-point land and a 63.6 percent night from the charity stripe. 
 
UP NEXT
 
The Wildcats will have their final game before a holiday break on Monday when they face the Walla Walla Wolves (1-5) back on the campus of YVCC with tip-off set for 5 p.m.