MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Central Washington women's basketball team opened GNAC play with a bang taking a 77-67 road victory against Western Oregon.
Asher Cai led all scores with 20 points on the night.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
- Final: Central Washington (77), Western Oregon (67)
- Records: CWU (7-3, 1-0 GNAC), WOU (3-5, 0-1 GNAC)
- Location: New PE Building, Monmouth, Ore.
QUOTING HEAD COACH RANDI RICHARDSON-THORNLEY:
"I'm happy to get our first conference win. Our team got a great taste of the start of conference play. WOU challenged us in some great ways and made some good runs at us in the second half. I'm pleased with our ability to stay composed and find a way to answer. However, there's still lots of learnings and excitement to grow from here."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Two free throws from Cai followed by a three-pointer from Sunny Huerta put CWU up 5-0 not even a minute into the game.
- The Wolves scored four-straight to make it 5-4 CWU before a three from Tori Maeda and a jumper and a free throw from Cai put CWU up 13-4 with 5:22 left in the first quarter.
- Another three from Maeda gave the Wildcats their first double-digit lead of the game at 16-6 with four minutes to go in the first quarter.
- The Wolves changed the momentum with a 12-3 run to end the first quarter and get back in the game 19-18 in favor of CWU.
- The Wolves immediately took the lead to open the second quarter with a three-pointer making it 21-19 WOU.
- WOU tacked on another bucket before a three by Huerta and a jumper from Capri Sims gave the 'Cats the lead back 23-22 with 9:35 left in the second quarter.
- Both teams tackled for the lead but a jumper by Huerta with 7:28 left in the second quarter sparked a Wildcat run.
- A 7-0 run capped by a Malia Smith three put CWU back up by double digits, 41-29 before a buzzer beating three-pointer by the Wolves made the score 41-32 at half.
- Both teams jockeyed coming out of halftime, but a 9-2 run by the Wolves found the Wildcat lead cut to 50-48 with 4:30 left in the third quarter.
- The Wildcats responded with a 10-0 run of their own to make it 60-48, but the Wolves struck last in the quarter with a pair of free throws making it a 60-50 crimson and black lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
- Each team exchanged buckets for the first half of the fourth quarter before back-to-back threes by Maeda made it 73-60 CWU with 4:47 left in the game.
- A pair of free throws by Sims made it 75-60 'Cats with 3:21 left in the game.
- The Wolves would finish the game on a 7-2 run, but the Wildcats would come out on top 77-67.
STATS FROM THE GAME:
- Cai led all scores in the game with 20 points, going a perfect nine for nine at the free throw line, pairing it with seven rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
- Huerta records her first career double-double with 17 points and a career-high in rebounds with 10 while adding three assists and a steal.
- Maeda kept busy from beyond the arc as all 15 of her points came from three-point range, adding five rebounds and four assists.
- Sims tacked on nine points, four assists, and two rebounds while Shelby Blodgett came off the bench and added eight points, four rebounds, and an assist.
- Malia Smith and Aliyah Finch each added three points while Finch had a rebound as well.
- Annalee Coronado contributed two points, five rebounds, two assists, a steal, and the Wildcats lone block of the night.
- The Wildcats finished the night shooting 44.1 percent from the floor, 47.4 percent on three attempts, and 84.2 percent from the charity stripe.
- WOU shot 40.3 percent from the floor, 18.8 percent from three-point land, and 90.9 percent from the free throw line.
- The Wildcats won the rebound game 42-32.
SERIES HISTORY:
- This was the 41st ever meeting between the two squads with the Wildcats owning the 30-11 advantage.
- CWU also owns a 14-7 advantage in Monmouth.
UP NEXT:
- The Wildcats travel back to The Evergreen State to wrap up the conference-opening weekend at Saint Martin's.
- Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m. from inside Marcus Pavilion this Saturday in Lacey, Wash.
