ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team (2-0) will head down to California to participate in the GNAC/PacWest Crossover for the team's first roadtrip of the season. The Wildcats will take on NCAA Division II newcomer Vanguard followed by a battle against the hosting Warriors of Westmont.
GAME INFORMATION
Friday, November 15
5:00 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Vanguard
Murchison Gymnasium
Santa Barbara, Calif.
WATCH ($) LIVE STATS TICKETS
Saturday, November 16
7:00 p.m.
Central Washington at Westmont
Murchison Gymnasium
Santa Barbara, Calif.
WATCH ($) LIVE STATS TICKETS
QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON
"We're excited to head to California for our first road trip for some more regional contests. This will be a great test for our team against two highly successful programs who will challenge us in some different ways. I'm excited to see how our team prepares and how well we can execute Friday and Saturday."
LAST WEEK
The Wildcats opened the season in a big way with an offensive flurry hosting the CCAA-GNAC Crossover. They first defeated Stanislaus State 90-67 and then continued to roll in a 92-57 victory over Cal State East Bay.
Sunny Huerta earned the GNAC Player of the Week after averaging 23.5 points per game, 4 rebounds per game, 2.5 assists per game, and had four steals.
First, against Stanislaus State, the Wildcats used a 26-2 first quarter to propel them to the 90-67 victory. Huerta led CWU with 27 points adding six rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Malia Smith and
Asher Cai each finished in double figures with 18 and 14, respectively, with Smith's 18 points a new career high. Cai also led CWU in assists with seven.
Capri Sims led CWU with 12 rebounds adding eight points, two assists, two blocks, and a steal.
Aliyah Finch added six points, five rebounds, one assist, and two blocks off the bench.
CWU finished the game shooting 52.6 percent from the floor, 53.6 percent from three, and 71.4 percent on free-throw attempts. They outrebounded the Warriors 47-36.
The 'Cats used a 56-point first half to defeat Cal State East Bay 92-57 in the final game of the CCAA-GNAC Crossover. Huerta once again led the 'Cats with 20 points, adding two rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Cai and
Shelby Blodgett finished in double figures with 15 and 11 points with Cai adding nine rebounds, two assists, and three steals. Finch led the 'Cats with rebounds at 10, falling just short of the double-double adding nine points and two steals.
Annalee Coronado led the crimson and black in assists with eight, adding eight points and three rebounds.
The Wildcats finished the game shooting 61.5 percent from the floor, 68.4 percent from three, and 78.9 percent at the charity stripe. CWU outrebounded the Pioneers 45-18.
LAST MEETINGS
This will be the first-ever meeting between the Wildcats and the Lions of Vanguard. The Lions are new to NCAA Division II after transitioning from the NAIA to the PacWest and Division II this season.
The Wildcats and Warriors met for the first time last season in Ellensburg with the 'Cats defeating Westmont 84-71. Cai led the game with 27 points, adding five rebounds and two steals.
Capri Sims had a double-double with 18 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and two steals while Huerta finished with 17 points, three rebounds, five assists, and one block. Coronado added seven points, one rebound, seven assists, and one steal.
SCOUTING THE LIONS
Vanguard is 0-2 on the season after getting swept last weekend up in Canada at Simon Fraser. They first fell to the hosting Red Leafs 77-71 before falling 68-48 against sixth-ranked Montana State Billings.
Over last weekend, the Lions have two players averaging double figures, Halle Si'i is averaging 18 points while Sarah Matossian is averaging 16 points. Matossian also leads the Lions in rebounding at eight rebounds per game with Emma Schaaf next in line at 5.5 rebounds. Si'i has contributed the most assists at nine as well as steals with four, but Schaaf and Jaryn Madsen each have four blocks.
Against SFU, both Matossian and Si'i finished with 22 points with Matossian adding 12 rebounds while Madsen also finished in double figured at 12 points adding one rebound, three blocks, and a steal.
Against MSUB, Si'i finished with 14 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals while Matossian added 10 points, four rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Schaaf had two points, three rebounds, one steal, and led Vanguard with two blocks.
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS
Westmont is also 0-2 on the season falling to the same two squads as Vanguard last weekend. They first fell to MSUB 52-40 before falling to hosting SFU 73-49.
Sage Kramer is the only Warrior averaging in double figures at 10 points a game and leads Westmont with four steals as well as in field goal percentage at 58.3 percent, three-point percent at 50 percent, and is a perfect 4/4 from the free-throw line. Lisa Kiefer leads WC in rebounding with 11 rebounds per game to go with her six points per game, and three blocks. Molly Garnand is contributing seven points per game, six rebounds per game, and leads the Warriors with five blocks. Kiefer was named the PacWest Defender of the Week for her efforts last weekend.
Against MSUB, Kiefer, Garnand, and Kate Goostrey each finished with 10 points with Kiefer going for the double-double adding 10 rebounds, one assist, and one block. Garnand added eight rebounds and three blocks.
Against SFU, Noemie Bariteau led the Warriors with 16 points, adding three rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal. Kramer finished with 14 points, adding two rebounds and two steals. Kiefer led the Warriors with 12 rebounds and tied with Garnand with two blocks.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats head back to Ellensburg to host the CWU Thanksgiving Tournament. The Wildcats will welcome fellow GNAC member Western Washington (1-2), as well as PacWest member Biola (0-2), and RMAC member Westminster (0-2) for a two-day tournament happening on Friday November 29 and Saturday November 30.
Friday, Nov. 29
Western Washington vs. Biola @ 12:00 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Westminster @ 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 30
Western Washington vs. Westminster @ 12:00 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Biola @ 2:00 p.m.
