LANGLEY, B.C., Canada – An early deficit doomed the Central Washington women's basketball team (0-2) in an 82-64 setback to the fast-paced Texas A&M International Dustdevils (2-0) Saturday afternoon in Canada.
Asher Cai once again led the Wildcats in scoring with 26 points in the contest.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
- Final: Central Washington 64, Texas A&M International 82
- Records: CWU (0-2), TAMIU (2-0)
- Location: Langley Events Centre, Langley, B.C.
QUOTING HEAD COACH RANDI RICHARDSON-THORNLEY:
"The run in the first quarter really hurt us. We had too many turnovers and didn't capitalize on some good offensive opportunities that were presented to us. Our ladies competed hard and found a way to match International the final three quarters. We need to find a way to make a couple more stops and find a few more scores to overcome such early deficits in the future."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Dustdevils found success working inside the paint jumping out to a quick 6-2 lead.
- A three-pointer and a jumper by TAMIU saw the lead increase to 11-2 with 5:17 left in quarter one forcing Coach Richardson-Thornley to call a timeout.
- The Dustdeviles tacked on six more points before a jumper by Sunny Huerta ended the TAMIU streak making it a 17-4 game.
- Shelby Blodgett added on two points for the 'Cats, but the crimson and black found themselves down 25-6 after the first quarter.
- Aliyah Finch and Keira Marsh each scored their first points of their Wildcat career in the first half of the second quarter making it a 33-12 TAMIU lead.
- Cai would take over for the Wildcats scoring nine of the 'Cats 13 points in the rest of the second quarter, but the Wildcats saw the Dustdevils with the 45-25 lead.
- Annalee Coronado opened up the scoring in the second half with a layup that was followed by a pair of free throws from Huerta saw the Wildcats trail 45-29 with 8:26 left in the third quarter.
- An eight-point run by TAMIU saw their lead grow to the biggest on the night at 60-33 before back-to-back three-pointers by Malia Smith and Cai and a pair of free throws by Huerta cut the lead to 60-41 in favor of TAMIU.
- A good free throw by Finch ended the third quarter making it a 65-50 lead for the Dustdevils with 10 minutes to play.
- Despite a jumper by Huerta, the Dustdevils were able to push their lead back to 20, 72-52 with 6:51 left in the game.
- Cai would keep the 'Cats in the game over the next three minutes scoring eight of the Wildcats 10 points making it a 78-62 game.
- Marsh would lay in the Wildcats final points of the game as they would wind up falling 82-64.
STATS FROM THE GAME:
- Cai once again led the 'Cats in scoring, dropping 26 points while tacking on six rebounds, one block, and two steals.
- Huerta was the only other 'Cat in double-digits posting 16 points, pawing four rebounds and two steals and adding on five assists.
- Blodgett added on six points to go with her five rebounds while Coronado and Marsh each had four points. Coronado had three rebounds, three assists, and a steal while Marsh added one rebound and two steals.
- Smith and Finch each had three points with Smith tallying one assist while Finch led the Wildcats with eight rebounds and added on two assists, one block, and one steal.
- Capri Sims was the only other scorer with two points to pair with her two rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- This was the first ever meeting between CWU and the Dustdevils.
- 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:
- CWU will have its handsful for a third straight day as they get ready for a date with the 7th-ranked team in the nation, the Texas-Tyler Patriots (2-0) Sunday afternoon with tip-off set for 12:45 p.m.
