NAMPA, Idaho – The Central Washington University women's basketball team couldn't overcome a slow start in a setback at Northwest Nazarene Saturday afternoon.
Asher Cai set a new career-high with 30 points in the loss.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
- Final: Central Washington (68), Northwest Nazarene (74)
- Records: CWU (14-7, 5-4 GNAC), NNU (8-8, 5-4 GNAC)
- Location: Johnson Sports Center, Nampa, Idaho
QUOTING HEAD COACH RANDI RICHARDSON-THORNLEY:
"NNU played a really good game, came out with more energy than we did, and started the game on an 11-0 run that ultimately was the difference in the game. You cannot come out flat in this league and expect to win games against anyone. This has given us more opportunity for growth."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- NNU used stout defense to build up an 8-0 lead before CWU Head Coach Randi Richardson-Thornley called a timeout with 6:51 left in the first quarter.
- The Nighthawks drilled a three-pointer before a pair of free throws and a three by Cai made it 11-5 NNU with 4:04 left in the quarter.
- The Wildcats would get a pair of buckets from Sunny Huerta but found themselves down 18-9 after the first 10 minutes of play.
- Cai opened up the second quarter drilling a three and backing it up with a jumper followed by a three from Huerta which cut the NNU lead to one, 18-17 with 7:51 left in the second quarter.
- NNU responded with a nine-point run to push their lead back to double-digits, 27-17 with 4:05 left in the quarter.
- Both teams continued to exchange buckets as NNU entered halftime with a 31-22 lead.
- Back-to-back layups by Capri Sims opened the third quarter and cut the Nighthawk lead down to 31-26.
- An eight-point run by NNU ballooned their lead back to double-digits, 41-28 with 5:56 left in the third quarter.
- A layup by Cai wrapped up the scoring of the third quarter and diced the NNU lead to eight, 49-41 entering the final 10 minutes of play.
- Despite a pair of buckets from Huerta to start the fourth quarter, NNU responded and increased their lead to 12, 57-45 with 7:36 left in the game.
- A three from Malia Smith followed by a layup from Sims made it a five-point game, 65-60 in favor of NNU with 1:53 left.
- Despite continuous buckets by Cai and Huerta down the stretch, NNU nailed enough of their free throws to secure the 74-68 victory for the Nighthawks.
STATS FROM THE GAME:
- Cai finished with a career-high 30 points and added nine rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
- Huerta tallied 17 points, four rebounds, four assists, and a steal.
- Sims finished with her second-straight double-double scoring 11 points and grabbing 13 rebounds while adding two assists, two blocks, and a steal.
- Riley Johnson and Smith each added three points with Johnson also having a rebound and a steal and Smith adding a rebound.
- Annalee Coronado and Shelby Blodgett each added two points with Coronado also adding three rebounds and two assists and Blodgett grabbing two rebounds.
- Keira Marsh finished with a steal for CWU.
- The Wildcats finished the game shooting 37.9 percent from the floor, 30.4 percent from three-point land, and 84.6 percent at the free-throw line.
- NNU shot 44.8 percent from the floor, 20 percent on three-point attempts, and 75 percent at the free throw line.
- CWU edged out the Nighthawks in the rebounding battle 40 to 39.
SERIES HISTORY:
- This was the 42nd meeting between CWU and NNU since 2003.
- NNU owns the series 30-12.
- The Wildcats are 5-16 at NNU and 11-30 against the Nighthawks in conference games.
UP NEXT:
- The Wildcats will have a tough pair of road tests next week first heading to Seattle Pacific for a Thursday night showdown from inside Royal Brougham Pavilion at 5:15 p.m.
- CWU will then take a long hike over to face ninth-ranked Montana State Billings on Saturday for a 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time tip-off from Alterowitz Gymnasium.
