ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington women's basketball team (10-1, 2-0 GNAC) will take to the road to continue their conference play. They start off with a tough game against the Montana State-Billings Yellow Jackets (11-2, 2-0 GNAC) before rounding out their weekend on the road with in-state rival the Seattle Pacific Falcons (6-4, 1-1 GNAC.)
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Thursday, December 29^th 
6:30 p.m. pacific time
Central Washington at Montana State-Billings
Alterowitz Gymnasium
Billings, Mont.
Watch Live Stats

Saturday, December 31^st
2:00 p.m.
Central Washington at Seattle Pacific
Brougham Pavilion
Seattle, Wash.
Watch Live Stats
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
The Wildcats had two record-breaking games last weekend in Yakima. The Wildcats took a 79-52 victory over Whitman College on Saturday December 17^th. Samantha Bowman headlined the 'Cats effort on the day with a 19 point, 31 rebound, five assist, and three steals. Bowmans' 31 rebound night provided a new record for rebounds in a single game for both CWU and the GNAC, she also set the new CWU and tied the GNAC record for offensive rebounds in a game (12.) 
 
Valerie Huerta "Sunshine" led all scores on the night with 24 points, including going seven for seven at the free-throw line. Asher Cai and Tori Maeda both finished in double-digits with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Riley Johnson and Claire Heitschmidt each came off the bench and added on five points while Ashley Schow added on four points. The Wildcats shot 43.8 percent from the field and 32 percent from the three-point line, while holding Whitman to 33.9 percent from the field and 21.4 percent from three-point attempts. 
 
On Monday December 19^th the Wildcats saw another record fall in a 92-44 victory over the Walla Walla Wolves. Sunshine once again led all points in the game, this time with 46 which sets a new school and GNAC record for single game points scored. During the 46-point outing Sunshine nailed 18 field goals which also sets a new school and GNAC record for field goals made in a single game. 
 
Bowman and Cai also each finished with double doubles as Bowman netted 19 points and 15 rebounds, while Cai racked in 13 points and 10 rebounds. Heitschmidt led the efforts off the bench with five points while Schow netted four points, Johnson three points, and Shaylee Coulter-Fa'amafu with two points. Maeda finished with a game-high nine assists. The 'Cats shot 55.2 percent from the field, while shooting 37.5 percent from three-point range. 
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH RANDI RICHARDSON-THORNLEY
 
"I'm excited to get in the full swing of conference play. We will be challenged tremendously out of the gate on the road at MSUB and SPU. Both are very well coached and disciplined teams. It will be a great opportunity to compete, grow, and see where we are at to an extent."
 
SCOUTING THE YELLOW JACKETS
 
MSUB is having arguably one of their best if not their best season ever this year at 11-2 on the season. That's including sweeping the three Hawaiian teams on the road as well as a tough sweep on the road over the Alaskan schools including a 68-61 victory over at the time 11^th-ranked Alaska Anchorage. The Jackets have had setbacks to up and coming Black Hills State in a battle of the Yellow Jackets in Billings 51-60. Their other setback came in their last pair of matches in the Holiday Hoops Classic in Las Vegas when they fell to national power Lubbock Christian 60-58. 
 
The Yellow Jackets have a balanced scoring attack with three players averaging double-figures and eight players averaging at least six points a game. The offensive charge is led by Dyauni Boyce who's averaging 11.8 points per game, while Cariann Kunkel and Shayla Montague each are averagine 11.4 and 10.3 points per game, respectively. Chloe Williams (7) and Aspen Giese (6) lead MSUB in blocks, while both are leading in steals as well (Giese 21 and Williams 19.) The Yellow Jackets spread their rebounding out fairly evenly as Boyce is the leading rebounder with 7.1 per game. 
 
Collectively MSUB is shooting 42.2 percent from the field while knocking down 34.2 percent from three-point land and 76.8 percent from free-throw attempts. They're averaging 38.8 rebounds per game, as well as dished out 204 assists, 112 steals, and 26 blocks. 
 
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
 
The Falcons maintained a 500-record following the first weekend of GNAC play. SPU has upped the tempo rattling off three wins in four games in convincing faction against Lincoln (CA), at Dominica (CA), at Holy Names, before a heartbreaking setback to Stanislaus State 63-62. 
 
The Falcons also have three players averaging double-figures in points, led by Ashley Alter averaging 14.5 points per game. Anna Eddy and Natalie Hoff each are averaging 10.6 and 10.1 points per game, respectively to round out the double-digit scorers. Hoff leads the team with 10 blocks, while Alter (13) and Hunter Beirne (11) lead the team in steals. Hoff and Alter are also the top rebounders at 5.5 and 5.3 rebounds per game. 
 
Collectively the Falcons are shooting 41.3 percent from the field, 31.5 percent from three-point attempts, and 64.2 percent from free-throw shooting. SPU is averaging 40 rebounds per game while dishing out 147 assists, 73 steals, and 38 blocks. 
 
LOOKING AHEAD
 
The Wildcats will set their sights back home when they take on 8^th-ranked rival the Western Washington Vikings (7-1, 1-0 GNAC) on Thursday January 5^th with tip-off set for 5:15 p.m. at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, Wash. CWU concludes their weekend in Moses Lake against Simon Fraser (2-3, 0-1 GNAC) on Saturday January 7^th with tip-off set for 4:00 p.m.