ELLENSBURG, Wash – The Central Washington women's basketball team (11-4, 3-3 GNAC) will look to rebound on the road following a tough weekend against stiff competition. The Wildcats will take their lone trip to the last frontier when they play the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves (10-4, 2-3 GNAC) and the Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks (4-8, 1-4 GNAC) this upcoming weekend.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Thursday, January 12^th
8:30 p.m. PST
RV Central Washington @ Alaska-Anchorage
Alaska Airlines Center
Anchorage, Alaska
Watch Live Stats

Saturday, January 14^th
4:00 p.m. PST
RV Central Washington @ Alaska-Fairbanks
Alaska Airlines Gymnasium
Fairbanks, Alaska
Watch Live Stats

LAST TIME OUT
 
The Wildcats suffered their first weekend sweep of the season against two tough teams in another home from home in Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake. The Wildcats first lost to the sixth-ranked Western Washington Vikings by an 82-70 score in what proved to be a very tightly contested contest up until the end.
 
36 points and 15 rebounds from Samantha Bowman buoyed the Wildcats in their upset attempt. Asher Cai added on 10 points, two blocks, and six rebounds, while going four for four from the free-throw line. Valerie Huerta "Sunshine" added on seven points, while Tori Maeda and Claire Heitschmidt each added on six points with Maeda also going a perfect four for four from the free-throw line, and Riley Johnson contributed five points of her own.
 
Saturday was highlighted by Bowman surpassing 1,000 career rebounds to continue to pave the way for the most career rebounds in school history. However, it wasn't enough for the Wildcats as the fast-speed offense of Simon Fraser gave them the 65-57 victory at BBCC.
 
Bowman again paced the Wildcat offense with 23 points and needed 15 rebounds to get to 1,000 career rebounds, but out did herself with 19 on the night. Bowman also provided four steals and two blocks on the afternoon. Sunshine and Heitschmidt each added on 11 and 10 points, respectively at Heitschmidt and her three converted threes proved critical to the Wildcats staying within the game down the stretch. Johnson in her first career start nabbed five points, while Cai contributed four, and Maeda and Ashley Schow each adding on two points.
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH RANDI RICHARDSON-THORNLEY
 
"I'm excited for two more opportunities to compete, see growth, and continue to grow. We are learning more and more about our team each week, and I love our eagerness to improve and prepare for our next opponents".
 
SCOUTING THE SEAWOLVES
 
The Seawolves have been struggling by their normal standards starting off their conference schedule with a 2-3 record. UAA started off their season hot going 7-0 including two wins over division one teams UC-Riverside and La Salle in the UAA hosted Great Alaska Shootout. However, adjusting to conference play has proved to be difficult, as shown in their most recent game against Alaska-Fairbanks when the Seawolves lost their first matchup to UAF for the first time since 2007 by a 61-56 score in Fairbanks.
 
The Seawolves are led in scoring by Vishe' Rabb who is averaging 16.9 points per game with Jahnna Hajdukovich averaging 10.4 points per game as the lone scorers in double-figures for UAA. Rabb is the leading defender as well averaging 7.4 rebounds per game and 27 steals, however Kate Robertson leads the Seawolves with four blocks. Nicole Pinckney dishes out the most assists with 44 on the season. Collectively, the Seawolves are shooting 39.1 percent from the floor, 30.5 percent on three-point attempts, and 71.7 percent from the free-throw line.
 
SCOUTING THE NANOOKS
 
While the 'Nooks might've not had the greatest start to their season, UAF is more than happy with their season following their 61-56 victory over in-state rival Alaska-Anchorage, which was the 'Nooks first victory over UAA since 2007 seeing the Seawolves win-streak over UAF of 28 come to a halt. UAF remained competitive in their conference losses losing each one by less than 10 points, minus their loss to Western Washington, but haven't quite put it together until their game against UAA.
 
Emma McKenney is the leading scorer for the Nanooks, averaging 15.2 points per game. Ellen Silva and Kayla Johnson each are averaging 10.7 and 10 points per game, respectively. Silva is the leading defender, averaging 8.1 rebounds per game and 14 blocks on the season, while Paola Perez-Mendoza leads the steal and assist categories with 21 and 38, respectively. Collectively, the Nanooks are shooting 41.8 percent from the floor, 35.5 percent from three-point attempts, and 67.5 percent from the free-throw line.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Wildcats will head back to the 'Burg where they'll host the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks (7-7, 3-3 GNAC) in the first game of the season to be held within the confines of Nicholson Pavilion. The Wildcats will be back on the campus of CWU against NNU on Saturday, January 21^st with a 2:00 p.m. tip-off.