LACEY, Wash. – The Central Washington women's basketball team swept their opening-weekend of GNAC play with a 69-48 road victory at Saint Martin's.
Asher Cai once again led the Wildcats with 15 points.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
- Final: Central Washington (69), Saint Martin's (48)
- Records: CWU (8-3, 2-0 GNAC), SMU (2-6, 0-2 GNAC)
- Location: Marcus Pavilion, Lacey, Wash.
QUOTING HEAD RANDI RICHARDSON-THORNLEY:
"I'm happy to finish the weekend 2-0 in conference. I'm very happy with some of the defensive efforts we saw tonight. However, we need to do a better job of finishing possessions with rebounds especially in the second half. Our team is growing and looking for opportunities to grow and that is all that matters to us right now."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Sunny Huerta opened the game with a jumper followed by a three-pointer with Tori Maeda to put the 'Cats up 5-0 early.
- The Saints got on the board at the 7:23 mark but Maeda responded with her second three on the night to make it 8-2 in favor of CWU with 6:55 left in the first quarter.
- SMU clawed back in and took the lead after a three-pointer making it 9-8 SMU with 5:50 left in the first quarter.
- The Wildcats responded with a 11-0 run to make it 19-9 with 2:01 left in the first quarter.
- The Saints added four points but a three by Maeda kept them abet, making it 22-13 to end the first quarter.
- Saint Martin's opened up the scoring in the second quarter with a layup to make it 22-15 before a pair of free throws by Huerta got the 'Cats on the board to maintain the nine-point lead at 24-15.
- Shelby Blodgett ended the almost three-minute scoring drought with a jumper to push the crimson and black to a double-digit lead, 26-15.
- Both teams exchanged blows before a 7-0 lead boosted the Wildcats lead to 37-21 with 2:42 left in the second quarter.
- A jumper by Huerta ended the first half with the Wildcats leading 41-24.
- The first basket of the third quarter came from the Saints at the 7:34 mark forcing Randi Richardson-Thornley to call a timeout in which the Wildcats responded with four-straight points to make it 45-26 in favor of CWU.
- A 7-1 run by the Saints cut the Wildcat lead to 13, 53-40 before Cai added a layup to end the third quarter with the 'Cats up 55-40.
- The final 10 minutes were opened by Capri Sims laying it in on the fastbreak to make it 57-40.
- Saint Martin's rattled off four-straight points before the 'Cats countered with seven-straight of their own to make it 64-44 after a technical foul free throw make from Huerta with 3:47 left in the game.
- Two free throws each from Cai and Annalee Coronado capped off the Wildcats scoring as they cruised to the 69-48 victory.
STATS FROM THE GAME:
- Cai earned her fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds to go with her one assist, all three of the Wildcats blocks, and one steal.
- Sims added 12 points and three rebounds while Huerta added 11 points, five rebounds, a team-high seven assists, and a steal.
- Coronado and Maeda each tacked on nine points while Coronado finished the night with five rebounds, four assists, and a steal and Maeda finished with three rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
- Blodgett finished with five points and three rebounds while Keira Marsh added four points and one rebound.
- Malia Smith and Aliyah Finch each had two points with Smith adding a rebound and an assist and Finch adding two rebounds.
SERIES HISTORY:
- This was the 41st meeting between the two teams with CWU currently holding the 23-18 advantage.
- The Wildcats are on a 14-game win streak over the Saints.
- CWU owns a 12-9 record in Lacey.
UP NEXT:
- The Wildcats will take a break from GNAC play hosting two games before Christmas.
- It'll be the "Battle of the Wildcats" in Ellensburg as NCAA Division III member Linfield (3-3) and CWU battle it out in Nicholson Arena on Saturday, Dec. 16 with a 2:00 p.m. tip-off.
- The Wildcats will then host NAIA member, the Evergreen State Geoducks (1-3) on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 4:00 p.m. from inside Nicholson Arena.
