ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington women's basketball team (14-4, 6-3 GNAC) will look to stretch their winning streak when they play host to the Seattle Pacific Falcons (11-6, 6-3 GNAC) and Montana State-Billings Yellow Jackets (16-4, 7-2 GNAC) this weekend inside Nicholson Pavilion.

There is a limited number of FREE CWU student tickets available (with valid CWU student ID.) Head HERE to claim yours ASAP! 
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Thursday, January 26^th
5:15 p.m.
RV Central Washington vs. Seattle Pacific
Nicholson Pavilion
Ellensburg, Wash.
Live Stats Watch

Saturday, January 28^th
4:00 p.m.
RV Central Washington vs. RV Montana State-Billings
Nicholson Pavilion
Ellensburg, Wash.
Live Stats Watch

LAST TIME OUT
 
The Wildcats are coming off a thrilling reopening of the Pav last Saturday against Northwest Nazarene. The Wildcats prevailed in overtime 79-77 after a late charge by the Nighthawks forced the game into OT which was the 'Cats first overtime game of the season.
 
The Nighthawks led after one quarter 16-12, but a major defensive effort by the Wildcats saw CWU lead at halftime 35-26. The Nighthawks kept within striking distance ending the third as the Wildcats were up 56-46, but the Nighthawks were determined, outscoring the Wildcats 25-15 in the fourth quarter to force overtime. Huge shots by Asher Cai, Claire Heitschmidt, and Valerie "Sunshine" Huerta helped the Wildcats keep pace with the persistent shooting and pesky defense of NNU. A made free-throw by Tori Maeda as well as a huge defensive effort helped the Wildcats secure the thrilling victory.
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH RANDI RICHARDSON-THORNLEY

 I'm excited for another opportunity to play true home games in Nicholson. This week will, like every week in the GNAC, will be a challenge. Both teams this week are veteran, physical, and execute at a high rate. We will have to play very good basketball to have success."
 
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
 
It's the second straight 'Cats versus birds battle where the Wildcats will look to get revenge on Seattle Pacific after the narrow 70-63 defeat SPU handed the Wildcats earlier this season in Seattle. The Falcons are coming off a weekend split where they couldn't have come closer to upsetting the at the time 5^th-ranked Western Washington Vikings at home, keeping pace with WWU before falling in the final minutes 58-53. However, SPU rebounded with a solid 64-53 victory over the Simon Fraser Red Leafs last Saturday.
 
Ashley Alter is the Falcons leading scorer, averaging 15 points per game, while Anna Eddy and Natalie Hoff round out the double-digit scorers with 10.4 and 10.1 points per game, respectively. Alter doesn't just lead the Falcons offensively, but defensively as well, averaging 6.2 rebounds per game, and is the leader in steals with 25 on the season. Hoff is the leader in blocks with 16 on the season, while Hunter Beirne leads in the assists category with 60 on the season.
 
Collectively, the Falcons are shooting 40.3 percent from the floor, 32 percent from three-point attempts, and 65.2 percent from the charity stripe.
 
SCOUTING THE YELLOW JACKETS
 
This is also the second meeting between the 'Jackets and the 'Cats as the crimson and black took the stinger out of the blue and gold earlier this season in Billings with a 70-44 victory. However, since then the 'Jackets have been on a five-game winning streak including a thrilling 69-67 overtime victory at home against SFU and a 73-61 upset over WWU, handing the Vikes their first conference loss and their first loss of the season since their very first game of the season.
 
MSUB has been led by Cariann Kunkel who is averaging 11.5 points per game. Taryn Shelley who hasn't started a game since recovering from an injury has come off the bench and averaged 10.9 points per game, while Dyauni Boyce is averaging 10.5 points per game to round out the 'Jackets double-digit scorers. Boyce is the leading rebounder for MSUB, averaging 6.2 rebounds per game, while Chloe Williams is the leader in blocks and steals with eight and 30 so far this season, respectively. Kortney Nelson has dished out the most assists with 62 so far this season.
 
Collectively, the Yellow Jackets are shooting 40.6 percent from the floor, 33.8 percent from three-point attempts, and a GNAC best 77 percent from the free-throw line.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Wildcats will take a break from their homestand and take a revenge tour with their first stop at Simon Fraser (6-7, 4-5 GNAC) on Thursday February 2^nd in Burnaby, British Columbia with a 7:00 p.m. tip-off. The Wildcats will then round out their revenge tour with a rivalry showdown against 11^th-ranked Western Washington (14-2, 8-1 GNAC) in Bellingham, Wash. with another 7:00 p.m. tip-off.