LANGLEY, B.C., Canada – The Central Washington women's basketball team (1-2) defeated the seventh-ranked UT Tyler Patriots (2-1) by a 64-61 score to conclude their participation in the CCA DII Canadian Tip-Off Classic hosted by Simon Fraser. Sunny Huerta led all scores with 27 points.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

• Final: Central Washington 64, Texas-Tyler 61
• Records: CWU (1-2), UTT (2-1)
• Location: Langley Events Centre, Langley, B.C.

 
QUOTING HEAD COACH RANDI RICHARDSON-THORNLEY
 
"I'm so incredibly proud of our team for the growth and resilience we showed today against UT-Tyler. Everyone on our bench and in the game gave their all for all 40 minutes and contributed to this win. Hopefully today we grew in our understanding of what it takes to compete at a high level and to see our potential as a team. Now it's a game of recovery and preparing for another big weekend next week."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Things started out in a back-and-forth affair as the Patriots would respond to every basket by CWU that was highlighted by three-pointers by Annalee Coronado and Asher Cai.
• The Patriots would tie the game at eight apiece before an eight-point run saw UTT jump out to a 16-8 lead.
• The Wildcats would claw back into it thanks to three free throws by Cai, two jumpers by Huerta and a pair of free throws by Coronado to see the Patriot lead cut to three, 20-17 to end the first quarter.
• UTT opened the scoring in the second quarter with a jumper, but Cai would drain three more free throws to make it a 22-20 UTT lead with 9:13 left in the quarter.
• Both teams went back and forth before a three-pointer by Keira Marsh gave the 'Cats the lead again at 27-26 with 6:40 left in quarter number two.
• It remained a back-and-forth affair with neither team able to gain a lead higher than two points as the Patriots entered halftime with the 36-35 lead.
• Capri Sims opened the scoring of the second half to give the 'Cats the lead back that was immediately boosted by a three-pointer from Huerta, making it a 40-36 CWU lead with 8:17 left in the third quarter.
• The Patriots used four free-throws and a three-pointer to retake the lead that was helped by four more points for a 48-42 UTT lead with 4:22 left in the third quarter.
• A three-pointer by Huerta and a jumper by Sims made it a one-point game once again which it would remain to end the third quarter with UTT leading 50-49.
• It was a back-and-forth affair once again to open the fourth quarter with the Patriots maintaining the lead until back-to-back threes by made it a 61-56 CWU lead with 4:24 left.
• Texas-Tyler wouldn't go quietly tying the game at 61 apiece with 1:18 left in the game.
• Three free-throws by Cai would seal the game as the Wildcats prevailed 64-61 for the crimson and blacks first win of the season.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:

• Huerta led all scores with 27 points while adding two rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal.
• Cai had another 20-point performance posting 20 points in the game to pair with her seven rebounds, five assists, one block, and four steals.
• Marsh finished the game with six points and two rebounds.
• Coronado posted five pints, two rebounds, one assist, and two steals.
• Sims finished with four points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal while Shelby Blodgett added two points and  five rebounds.

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• This was the first ever meeting between the Wildcats and Patriots.
• This was the first victory for any of the three GNAC women's teams participating (with Alaska Fairbanks and Simon Fraser).

 
UP NEXT:

• The crimson and black will head to The Golden State to participate in the CCAA-GNAC Crossover hosted by Cal State East Bay in Hayward, California. The Wildcats will first matchup with the hosting Pioneers (0-0) on Friday, November 10^th at 5:00 p.m. before a Saturday afternoon showdown against the Stanislaus State Warriors (0-0) at 1:00 p.m. with both matches coming from inside Pioneer Gymnasium.