Box Score
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team (4-0) defeated the Westmont College Warriors (1-3) 66-55 to conclude the GNAC/PacWest Crossover, hosted by the Warriors. Sunny Huerta led all scores with 24 points while Aliyah Finch set a new CWU career-best with 17 points. 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
 

• Final: Central Washington (66), Westmont (55) 
• Records: CWU (4-0), WC (1-3)
• Location: Murchison Gymnasium, Santa Barbara, Calif. 

 
QUOTING HEAD COACH RANDI RICHARDSON
 
"I'm very pleased to come out of this trip with two wins. We knew tonight was going to be a challenge since Westmont is a very good team who can shoot the three and hurt you off the dribble. I was proud of our team's composure and ability to adjust and execute our game plan better after halftime. Aliyah stepped up big for us off the bench, and that was a huge lift for us."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: 
 

• The Wildcats got off to a slow start as the Warriors managed to get the first three points until Finch put CWU on the board at the 7:24 mark to make it 3-2 WC. 
• Westmont took the 9-4 lead with 4:32 left in the first quarter, but a pair of buckets by Asher Cai and Huerta concluded the first quarter with WC leading 9-8. 
• A layup by Finch gave CWU their first lead of the game at the 9:42 mark of the second quarter, making it 10-9 'Cats.
• Back-to-back threes by Finch and Annalee Coronado put the crimson and black up 18-14 with 6:46 left in the second quarter. 
• Three free-throws by Cai gave CWU their largest lead yet, putting CWU up 24-18 with 5:16 left in the second. 
• Finch kept the Wildcats going scoring the final four points for CWU before the half as CWU took the 30-26 lead. 
• The crimson and black kept up the pressure as a pair of buckets by Huerta and another by Capri Sims saw the Wildcat lead balloon to double-digits at 36-26 with 8:03 left in the third. 
• The teams kept going bucket-for-bucket until a pair of free-throws by  Huerta, a jumper by Keira Marsh, and a layup by Finch gave the 'Cats their largest lead of the night, leading 54-39 with 2:01 left in the third. 
• The Warriors got the final bucket of the third to make it a 54-43 CWU lead heading into the final 10 minutes. 
• The teams continued to go bucket-for-bucket in the fourth, but clutch free-throws by Sims and Coronado helped give the 'Cats the 62-50 lead with 1:22 left in the game. 
• A pair of free-throws by Huerta concluded the Wildcat scoring as the Wildcats secured the 66-55 victory. 

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Huerta led all scoring with 24 points, adding five rebounds, one assist, and one steal. 
• Finch had a CWU career-best night with 17 points, five rebounds, and one assist. 
• Cai added 14 points with five rebounds, one block, and one steal. 
• Sims finished the game with five points, led the game with 13 rebounds, and added one steal. 
• Coronado and Marsh finished with four and two points, respectively with Coronado adding one rebound and one assist while Marsh added three assists and one steal. 
• Shelby Blodgett and Jordy DeMott each added one rebound. 

 
SERIES HISTORY: 
 

• The Wildcats now hold the 2-0 series lead. 
• The Wildcats have defeated the Warriors in each Ellensburg and Santa Barbara. 
• They defeated the Warriors 84-71 in Ellensburg last season. 

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will have a week off before hosting the CWU Thanksgiving Tournament featuring Western Washington, Westminster (UT), and Biola. The Wildcats will play Westminster on Friday, Nov. 29 at 2:00 p.m. and then Biola on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 2:00 p.m.