ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington women's basketball team (16-6, 8-5 GNAC) will play host to their final two home games of the season when they welcome the Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks (4-15, 1-11 GNAC) for a Thursday night matchup inside the Nicholson Pavilion with a 7:00 p.m. tip-off. The Wildcats will welcome the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves (14-7, 6-6 GNAC) on Saturday with a 4:00 p.m. tip-off and for senior day where the Wildcats will honor the four seniors on the team. 
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Thursday, February 9^th 
7:00 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Alaska Fairbanks
Nicholson Pavilion
Ellensburg, Wash.
Tickets Watch Live Stats

Saturday, February 11^th
4:00 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Alaska Anchorage
Nicholson Pavilion
Ellensburg, Wash.
Tickets Watch Live Stats
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
The Wildcats are coming off a very tough road trip with a well-earned split on the weekend. First, the 'Cats grinded out a 88-81 victory over the Simon Fraser Red Leafs on Thursday where the 'Cats just couldn't put the Red Leafs away until the closing minutes. Samantha Bowman had herself a night netting 29 points and 21 rebounds while providing four assists, one block, and two steals. Sunshine Huerta and Asher Cai also finished with over 20 points on the night as Sunshine nailed 24 points while Cai added on 22. 
 
The Wildcats outshot the Red Leafs from all areas of the court, 50 percent from the floor, 42.4 percent from three-point attempts, and 88.9 percent from the free-throw line. The Wildcats also outrebounded the Red Leafs 41-30. 
 
The Wildcats squared off against ninth-ranked Western Washington on Saturday and even though the 'Cats battled back early to make it a 7-6 WWU advantage, the Vikings would go on a tear from there and never look back going on to defeat the Wildcats 78-60. Cai wound up being the leading scorer from the night producing 19 points to go with her four rebounds, three assists and one block. Sunshine, Bowman, and Ashley Schow also provided double-figure scores from the night with Sunshine adding 11 while Bowman and Schow each added on 10 points. 
 
The Wildcats would go on to shoot a respectable 34.4 percent from the floor, while both teams each shot three of 15 from three-point tries for 20 percent shooting, and the Wildcats would only miss two free-throws on the night for an 86.7 percent clip from the free-throw line. The Wildcats would get outrebounded 39-32. 
 
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH RANDI RICHARDSON-THONRLEY
 
"It's great to be back home in Nicholson. It's going to be a very challenging week against two very good teams. It's vital that we take learnings from our first games against UAF and UAA and execute at a higher level as well as be ready for a physical battle this week. We need to come in ready to play hard and execute at a high intensity because we will for sure have to earn everything we get. Saturday will be exciting to honor and celebrate our seniors!"
 
 
SCOUTING THE NANOOKS
 
The Nanooks are currently riding a seven-game losing streak with their last win coming on January 7^th against UAA at home in a 61-56 thriller that gave UAF their first victory over the Seawolves since 2007. Since then, however it's been a bit of a struggle with last weekend on the road at UAA losing 39-69. Up in Alaska earlier this season the Wildcats surged to a 73-56 victory over the Nanooks.
 
Emma McKenney is the 'Nooks leading scorer on the season averaging 13.9 points per game, while Sam Tolliver is the other double-figures scorer averaging 10.4 points per game. Ellen Silva has been the leading defender this season for UAF, averaging 7.8 rebounds per game while also tacking on 25 blocks. Paola Perez-Mendoza leads UAF in steals (30) and assists (61). Collectively, the Nanooks are shooting 40 percent from the floor, 31.3 percent from three-point attempts, and 70.3 percent from the free-throw line. 
 
 
SCOUTING THE SEAWOLVES
 
The Seawolves, while maybe not having the normal UAA season we're all accustomed to, are on a 4-2 streak currently with their latest victory being their 69-39 victory over UAF last weekend. Earlier this season up in Alaska the Wildcats pulled out a huge 71-47 victory over the Seawolves for their first win in Anchorage since January 19^th, 2013, while Bowman had herself a triple double which was the first for CWU since December 31^st, 2011 and the first for the GNAC since 2016.
 
Vishe' Rabb and Jahnna Hajdukovich lead the Seawolves as the two double-figures scorers with Rabb averaging 14.6 points per game and Hajdukovich averaging 11.1 points per game. Kate Robertson just edges out Rabb to lead the Seawolves in rebounding, averaging 6.6 rebounds per game and is the leading blocker with seven on the season. Nicole Pinckney has dished out the most assists with 62 so far this season with Rabb the leader in steals with 39 on the season. Collectively, the Seawolves are shooting 38.2 percent from the floor, 31.3 percent from three-point land, and 71 percent from the free-throw line. 

THE SENIORS

The Wildcats will honor four seniors this Saturday; Samantha Bowman, Kiera Bush, Jenna Troy, and Tori Maeda. There will be a pre-tip celebration for all their hardwork and contributions to the Central Washington community the past few years, so come out and help us celebrate and thank the four seniors for everything they've done for CWU! 
 
UP NEXT
 
The Wildcats will begin their first of potentially three or more weekends on the road. They start their first weekend on the road with one game at Northwest Nazarene (9-12, 5-8 GNAC) on Saturday, February 18^th with a tip-off time of 4:15 p.m. pacific time from Nampa, Idaho.