LANGLEY, B.C., Canada – The Central Washington women's basketball team (0-1) fell to open the 2023-24 regular season north of the border in a 69-54 setback to the Colorado Mesa Mavericks (1-0) in the first game of the CCA DII Canadian Tip-Off Classic hosted by Simon Fraser. Asher Cai led the Wildcats in scoring with 19 points.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington 54, Colorado Mesa 69
• Records: CWU (0-1), CMU (1-0)
• Location: Langley Events Centre, Langley, B.C.

QUOTING HEAD COACH RANDI RICHARDSON-THORNLEY:


"I'm pleased with our effort in the first half. We have to grow in sustaining that effort and finding ways to come together when challenged. A big credit to Colorado Mesa for coming out in the second half and playing with a greater determination than us. We learned a lot and now we have to grow and be better for tomorrow."

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• Both teams traded baskets to open the game, but an Asher Cai three-pointer pushed the Wildcats lead to five, 7-2 almost halfway through the first quarter.
• The Mavericks would battle back from a second five-point deficit to take the lead, but Shelby Blodgett would nail a jumper to make it a 13-12 CMU lead after the first quarter.
• Annalee Coronado opened the second quarter giving the 'Cats the lead back with a jumper of her own.
• Back-to-back threes by Malia Smith and Cai gave the 'Cats their first six-point lead. Sunny Huerta and Cai would give the 'Cats two more six-point leads for their largest lead of the night.
• A pair of free throws by Coronado pushed the Wildcats to a five-point lead, 30-25, but a costly turnover right before the buzzer allowed Mesa to nail a jumper to make it a 30-27 CWU lead heading into halftime.
• The Mavs opened the second half with a jumper to make it a one-point game that was immediately responded by Coronado with a three, making it 33-29 in favor of CWU.
• The teams battled the rest of the quarter, exchanging the lead, but CMU ended the quarter with a made jumper to take the 43-40 lead to enter the final 10 minutes.
• The Mavs started the fourth quarter with hot shooting, immediately draining two three-pointers, followed by a jumper in the paint gave the Mavs a six-point lead, 51-45 forcing Coach Richardson-Thornley to take a timeout.  
• A 12-4 run by the Mavs saw the lead increase to 63-49 with a minute and a half left.
• The 'Cats would get a bucket by Huerta and Coronado each with Coronado adding on a free throw, but Colorado Mesa would prevail 69-54.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Cai picked up right where she left off last year as the reigning GNAC Freshman of the Year, dropping 19 points to go with her seven rebounds, one assist, and two steals.
• Coronado, in her collegiate debut, impressed with 16 points and five rebounds.
• Huerta added on nine points, three rebounds, one assist, and one steal while Blodgett tacked on four points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
• Capri Sims in her collegiate debut matched Malia Smith with three points apiece. Sims also added on three rebounds and one assist while Smith had one rebound and one assist herself.
• Freshman Olivia Huntsinger got the nod to start providing a nice defensive boost grabbing three rebounds and a block to go with two assists.
• Yakima Valley College transfer Aliyah Finch did some work on defense with four rebounds and three blocks.

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
 

• This was the first ever meeting between the Wildcats and Colorado Mesa.
• Alaska Fairbanks and Simon Fraser are also participating in the CCA DII Canadian Tip-Off Classic along with the Wildcats and their opponents.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will prepare for a matchup with the Texas A&M International Dustdevils (1-0) as their second matchup in the CCA DII Canadian Tip-Off Classic with a start time set for 12:15 p.m. from the Langley Events Centre.