ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington women's basketball team (8-3, 2-0 GNAC) will ride their five-game winning streak into a pair of nonconference games to conclude their pre-holiday break schedule.
GAME INFORMATION
Saturday, December 16
2:00 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Linfield
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Wash.
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Tuesday, December 19
4:00 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Evergreen State
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Wash.
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QUOTING HEAD COACH RANDI RICHARDSON-THORNLEY
"These past two weeks without a game have been positive for our development however, we are excited to get back on our home court for two important games versus Linfield and Evergreen State. We are excited for another opportunity to compete and continue to challenge ourselves as we continue to look for ways to improve."
LAST OUTING
The Wildcats had a nice break between their conference opening weekend and their matchups this coming week. They defeated Western Oregon 77-67 on Thursday, November 30 before defeating the Saints of Saint Martin's 69-48 on Saturday, December 2.
Asher Cai once again led the Wildcats in scoring with 20 points that she paired with seven rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
Sunny Huerta posted her first double-double of her career notching 17 points and 10 rebounds to go with her three assists and one steal.
Tori Maeda nailed five three-pointers in the game for 15 points and she added five rebounds and four assists.
Capri Sims added nine points while
Shelby Blodgett was the leader off the bench with eight.
Malia Smith and
Aliyah Finch each added three points while
Annalee Coronado added two, a steal, and the crimson and black's only block of the night.
Cai once again led the Wildcats in scoring with 15 points against the Saints. She added on 11 rebounds, one assist, three blocks, and a steal. Sims added 12 points and three rebounds while Huerta contributed 11 points with five rebounds, seven assists, and one steal. Coronado and Maeda added nine points with Coronado adding five rebounds, four assists, and a steal while Maeda added three rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Blodgett once again led off the bench, adding five points while
Keira Marsh added four points and Smith and Finch matched once again, this time with two points.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Linfield has gotten off to a 5-4 record and a 2-0 conference record. The purple and red started with a 0-2 opening weekend, falling to Multnomah 86-77 at home before falling 59-46 at Bushnell. The Wildcats then traveled down to the Lone Star State, earning their first win of the season in a 63-51 showing over Austin College before falling to UT-Dallas 77-59. LU responded by rattling off four-straight victories, a 52-44 victory over Walla Walla, 65-55 over Pacific Lutheran in their conference opener, 63-46 over Lewis & Clark, and an 80-70 victory over Warner Pacific. The Wildcats fell on the road at fellow GNAC-member Western Oregon 73-65 on Monday.
The Wildcats have been led by Gillyan Landis and Ella Koebelin who are averaging 11.6 and 10.3 points per game, respectively. Miki Vermeulen is close to averaging a double-double putting up 8.9 points per game and 9.4 rebounds per game to also lead LU in rebounds. Three different Wildcats have created at least 20 assists, led by Koebelin with 26 while Allison Mead and Amelia Solt each have 21 and 20, respectively. Koebelin and Solt are leading the Wildcats with seven steals on the season while Vermeulen and Landis are the leading blockers with six and five, respectively.
SCOUTING THE GEODUCKS
ESC has gotten off to a 1-4 start to their season, including a 1-2 conference record. The Geoducks opened their season with an 85-56 setback in exhibition play at Seattle University. They then traveled to Hawaii where they fell 78-65 to Chaminade before returning to The Evergreen State and falling to Pacific Lutheran 55-52 in Tacoma. ESC then fell in exhibition play their next two games, first a 58-54 setback to Whitman before a 59-51 setback at Saint Martin's. The Geoducks then won their first game of the season in an 80-76 overtime decision before falling 74-45 to Lewis-Clark State and then falling 67-62 at Northwest University.
The Geoducks have two players averaging in double-figures, led by Jalyn Sackrider with 13.8 points per game while Sydney Vanness is averaging 10.3 points per game. Both Sackrider and Vanness are the leading rebounders as well with Sackrider averaging nine per game while Vanness is averaging 6.3 per game. Thuyvi Tran has dished out the most assists during the season with 13 so far while Jenna Glenzel has the most steals with nine. Sackrider has made the most blocks for the Geoducks with five on the season so far.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will have a break for the holidays and will return to action on Saturday, December 30 when they battle the Westminster Griffins (2-6) at noon from inside Nicholson Arena.
