ELLENSBURG, Wash.- The Central Washington University Women's Basketball team picked up the win over the Evergreen State College Geoducks Tuesday evening 83-55. Asher Cai's fifth double-double of the season led the Wildcats with 21 points and 14 rebounds.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

• Final: Central Washington (83), Evergreen State College (55)
• Records: CWU (10-3, 2-0 GNAC) , ESC (1-6, 1-4 CCC)
• Location: Nicholson Arena, Ellensburg, Wash.

QUOTING HEAD COACH RANDI RICHARDSON-THORNLEY:

"I'm pleased with what I saw from our team today and our intentionality to grow in the ways we wanted. This is a good way to head into break. I'm proud of our ability to share the ball with 25 assists tonight. It was fun to see our capabilities beyond the three, hitting 16 tonight."

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Wildcats won the tip-off and picked up the first points of the game following a Sunny Huerta rebound and score, putting CWU up 2-0.
• Cai knocked down a pair of free throws to grow the lead 4-0.
• Evergreen's first score would come off a jumper in the paint, making it 4-2.
• Tori Maeda would knock down a pair of threes following Huertas second three to grow the CWU lead to 13-2.
• A pair of jump shots and an and-one would bring the Geoducks back within five, before Cai hit a pair of three's to grow CWU's lead back to nine, 21-12.
• Five more points from Huerta and a Capri Sims fastbreak score would increase the 'Cats lead making it 28-15.
• A pair of threes by CWU and a buzzer-beating jumper from ESC would close out the first period with CWU up 34-17.
• The Wildcats and Geoducks would go scoreless for the first two minutes of quarter number two before ESC took the first bucket on a layup in the paint making it 34-19.
• After trading layups, the 'Cats would go on a nine point run with a pair of threes by Cai and one by Maeda to lead 45-23 with 3:36 to go in the first half.
• Sims would add three points on a successful and-1, and the Geoducks answered right back to round out the first half, CWU up 48-28.
• ESC would hit a three to open up the 3rd quarter before Analee Coronado's jumper put the 'Cats at the half century mark, 50-31.
• An eight point run by the 'Cats would grow their lead 58-31.
• The Wildcats and Geoducks traded jump shots with a Cai three and ESC jumper to close the third quarter with CWU up 65-37.
• The Geoducks struck first in the fourth with a jumper with CWU getting their first points of the quarter on a Huerta three with 7:55 remaining making it 68-39 crimson and black.
• Trading a pair of threes, CWU's both coming from Malia Smith, saw CWU lead 76-49.
• Keira Marsh added four points for the Wildcats and assist Smith on a three to cap off the scoring at 83-55.

STATS FROM THE GAME:

• Cai led the 'Cats with 21 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and CWU's lone block.
• Sims picked up her third double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
• Huerta had 15 points with six rebounds while adding four assists.
• Maeda and Smith both hit three 3's for the 'Cats, securing nine points each.
• Coronado and Marsh each added seven points for the Wildcats.

SERIES HISTORY:

• CWU is currently undefeated against ESC, winning all 6 contests dating back to 2003.
• Five of the six contests have been held at CWU, with 2003's contest being the only one in Olympia.
• Tonight's victory marks the largest margin of victory in contest history against ESC.

UP NEXT:

• CWU will host their last nonconference regular season game against Westminster (UT) Saturday Dec. 30th with tip-off set for 12:00 p.m. inside Nicholson Arena.
• The Wildcats will then get back into conference play hosting Montana State Billings and Seattle Pacific in January.
• Thursday, Jan. 4th. CWU vs MSUB 5:15 p.m., Nicholson Arena.
• Saturday, Jan. 6th. CWU vs SPU 4:00 p.m., Nicholson Arena.