BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Central Washington Wildcat women's basketball team defeated the Hawaii Pacific Sharks 103-65 in the opening game of the 2023 Lynda Goodrich Classic, hosted by Western Washington University. Sunny Huerta led all scores dropping 37-points, which is also one point away from breaking a Carver Gym record of points for a non-WWU player. 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (103), Hawaii Pacific (65)
• Records: CWU (5-3), HPU (1-3)
• Location: WECU Court at Carver Gym, Bellingham, Wash. 

 
QUOTING HEAD COACH RANDI RICHARDSON-THORNLEY
 
"I'm pleased with how our team came out ready to play tonight and to take steps forward in the ways we want to grow. Offensively, we had a great night and played with great pace and composure. Sunny really got us going and sustained that effort throughout the game. Defensively, we did a good job making adjustments as we needed, but there are still plenty of takeaways and growth opportunities. Now it's onto the recovery battle and getting ready for another very good opponent tomorrow."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• Huerta got things going nailing a jumper to open the game, putting the 'Cats up 2-0 before a Sharks 7-0 run put them up 7-2 with just under eight minutes left in the first quarter. 
• Asher Cai stopped the Shark run before back-to-back threes from Cai and Tori Maeda gave the 'Cats the lead 12-11 with 5:39 left in the first quarter. 
• An 8-0 run by the crimson and black saw them firmly gain the lead 27-15 with 1:32 left in the first quarter en route to the 29-18 lead after the first quarter. 
• Huerta kept things going for CWU, dropping four quick points to increase the 'Cats lead 33-18 early in the second quarter. 
• Two free throws by Huerta saw the lead grow to 44-23 with 5:45 left in the second quarter. 
• Keira Marsh drained a three-pointer and the ensuing free throw to put the 'Cats up 60-29 with 19 seconds left in the first half. 
• The Sharks would get a free throw, but CWU would lead 60-30 at halftime. 
• The Wildcats picked up right where they left off in the third quarter with a 13-0 run coming out of the halftime break with Maeda draining two three-pointers in the process to make it a 73-30 game with 6:36 left in the third quarter. 
• The Sharks were able to get some buckets, but a last second jumper by Malia Smith kept the Wildcats heavily in front 81-45 heading into the final 10 minutes. 
• Both teams traded baskets to open the fourth before Rylee Leishman scored her first collegiate points with a three-pointer to make it 88-50 with 7:28 left in the game. 
• Cai kept the Wildcats in front by 40 twice with three-pointers of her own, followed by two free throws from Huerta pushed the 'Cats lead to 96-54 with 5:25 left in the game. 
• Cai responded to a Sharks three with a jumper of her own to also push the Wildcats to triple-digits in the game 100-59 with 2:59 left in the game. 
• A free throw by Marsh and a jumper by Annalee Coronado closed out the game with the Wildcats coming out victorious in a big way, 103-65. 

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Huerta led all scores with 37 points to go with her two rebounds and six assists. 
• Cai tacked on 21 points, five rebounds, and two assists, while Maeda was the other Wildcats in double-figures with 15 points, two rebounds, and four assists.
• Capri Sims had six points on the night and led the crimson and black with 10 rebounds while adding one assist and one block. 
• Coronado added four points, four rebounds, a team-high seven assists, and one steal. 
• Aliyah Finch had eight points, four rebounds, and one block while Marsh added five points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals. 
• Leishman added three points and one rebound while Smith added two points and two rebounds and Shelby Blodgett had two points, six rebounds, one assist, and one steal. 
• The Wildcats finished shooting 58.8 percent from the floor, 58.3 percent from three-point range, and 90 percent from the free throw line. 
• HPU was held to shooting 36.8 percent from the floor, 25 percent from three-point land, and 65.5 percent from the free throw line. 

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• This was the 11^th all-time meeting between the two squads with the Wildcats leading the series 7-4. The Sharks won the last matchup back on Nov. 9, 2019, 81-76 in Ellensburg. 

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will wrap up their participation in the 2023 Lynda Goodrich Classic with a matchup against the Minnesota State Moorhead Dragons (0-3) at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow from inside Carver Gym in Bellingham.