ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University women's basketball team dropped a gritty contest to the nationally ranked Montana State Billings Yellowjackets Thursday evening.
Sunny Huerta kept her hot streak alive torching 29 points in the contest.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
- Final: Central Washington (73), #17 Montana State Billings (82)
- Records: CWU (11-4, 2-1 GNAC), MSUB (12-3, 3-0 GNAC)
- Location: Nicholson Arena, Ellensburg, Wash.
QUOTING HEAD COACH RANDI RICHARDSON-THORNLEY:
"I'm pleased with our team's overall effort tonight against a very good MSUB team. We got a great taste of what conference basketball is and hopefully, we improve on our sense of urgency to execute on both sides of the floor. Credit Billings for making big answers all night long."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The 'Cats got things off hot as Annalee Coronado buried a three-pointer followed by a layup from Asher Cai to put CWU up quickly 5-0.
- The 'Jackets got on the board on their next possession with a three that was followed by a jumper from Cai.
- This prompted a nine-point run by MSUB to make it a 12-7 'Jacket lead heading into the media timeout.
- Huerta stormed back for the crimson and black draining back-to-back threes to put CWU up 13-12 with 3:51 left in the first quarter.
- The teams battled it for the rest of the quarter ending it deadlocked at 17.
- CWU held the Yellowjackets scoreless for the first three minutes of the second quarter, building up their lead to five, 22-17.
- The 'Jackets tightened things up before back-to-back threes by Cai pushed the crimson and black's lead up to seven, 28-21 with 5:40 left in the second quarter.
- Both teams battled before MSUB went on a 10-point run to give them the 37-33 lead.
- The Wildcats responded, tying the game up before a pair of free throws by MSUB ended the first half with the 'Jackets on top 39-37.
- MSUB came out of halftime with a vengeance, knocking down back-to-back threes to increase their lead to 45-37 before Cai and Tori Maeda responded with threes of their own to make it a 45-43 'Jacket lead.
- The Yellowjackets used a 5-0 run to increase their lead back up to seven, 50-43.
- The teams would continue to battle before a technical foul on MSUB sent Huerta to the line for CWU where she nailed all four tries and followed it up with a jumper to make it a one-point MSUB lead, 56-55 with 1:50 left in the third quarter.
- MSUB used a 7-3 run to end the quarter with a 63-58 lead.
- Capri Sims knocked down a pair of free throws to open the fourth quarter, but MSUB used a 6-0 run to balloon their lead up to nine, 69-60 with 8:23 left in the game.
- The Wildcats wouldn't go quietly as Huerta dropped two jumpers and Cai added one of her own to put the 'Cats back in it, 69-66 with 6:30 left in the game.
- Both teams battled with the 'Cats keeping it a three-point lead with 4:13 left in the game before the 'Jackets went on a game-sealing eight-point run making it 81-70 with 2:16 to go.
- Cai would nail a three-pointer, but it wouldn't be enough as the nationally ranked Yellowjackets escaped with an 82-73 victory inside Nicholson Arena.
STATS FROM THE GAME:
- Huerta was the leading scorer on both sides with 29 points while also contributing two rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
- Cai showed out once again with 22 points, adding eight rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
- Coronado finished with nine points, two rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
- Sims added eight points and six rebounds while Maeda added three points, four rebounds, and four assists.
- Shelby Blodgett had two points and three rebounds.
- Riley Johnson finished with one rebound while Aliyah Finch had two rebounds.
SERIES HISTORY:
- This was the 37th meeting between the two squads since 2003.
- MSUB leads the series 21-16, owning a three-game winning streak after today's game.
- The Wildcats are 8-9 inside Nicholson Arena against the Yellowjackets.
UP NEXT:
- The Wildcats will welcome Seattle Pacific (5-8, 2-1 GNAC) to Nicholson Arena for a Saturday afternoon showdown at 4:00 p.m.
