ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team took down the Westminster Griffins in the first day of the CWU Thanksgiving Tournament by a 54-36 score inside Nicholson Arena. Asher Cai led all scores in the game with 21 points.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (54), Westminster (36)
• Records: CWU (5-0), WU (1-4)
• Location: Nicholson Arena, Ellensburg, Wash.

 
QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON:
 
"Westminster challenged us in the first half on both sides of the ball as well as outhustled us. I was pleased in the second half with our defensive effort which sustained us as we worked through our offensive struggles. I'm very happy to get the win, and am very happy to have an opportunity to grow and get better from this game. Now it's onto the recovery battle."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• Cai opened the scoring for the game by draining a three-pointer just 1:25 into the game, but the Griffins would immediately respond with a jumper of their own to put them on the board.
• The teams battled throughout the remainder of the first quarter with neither team able to pull away by more than three points as they concluded the first 10 minutes knotted up at 15.
• Annalee Coronado started the second quarter off with a layup to give the 'Cats the lead once more 17-15, but just like in the first quarter the Griffins immediately responded to tie things up once more.
• A three-pointer by Sunny Huerta put CWU up 26-21 with 2:32 left and broke the almost three-minute scoring drought in the game.
• The Griffins would wrap up the first half with a pair of layups to send the teams to halftime with CWU leading 26-25.
• Westminster earned the first points of the third quarter with a jumper that was immediately responded to by Cai to give the 'Cats the lead back.
•  A three from Cai followed by a pair of buckets from Huerta, and a pair of free-throws from Cai went unanswered by the Griffins as CWU built a 37-27 lead with 3:30 left in the third.
• WU managed a free-throw, but Malia Smith ended the third quarter with a big three-pointer to send the crimson and black into the final 10 minutes with a 40-28 lead.
• The Wildcats continued to build upon their lead to open the fourth seeing back-to-back layups by Capri Sims which made it a 44-28 lead for the 'Cats.
• Both teams exchanged a pair of buckets, but a jumper by Sims and a layup by Keira Marsh made it a 50-32 CWU lead with 3:58 left in the game.
• Both teams exchanged two buckets the remainder of the game, as CWU went on to take the 54-36 victory.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Cai led the game with 21 points, adding six rebounds and two assists.
• Huerta tacked on 11 points and led the game collecting 10 rebounds, dishing out four assists, and added one steal.
• Sims earned her highest point total of this season with 10 points, adding seven rebounds, and one steal.
• Coronado finished with four points, four rebounds, two assists, and had the only block of the night for the crimson and black.
• Smith and Aliyah Finch each added three points with Smith also tacking on an assist and Finch adding four rebounds.
• Marsh had two points, one rebound, and one assist while Shelby Blodgett added four rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
• Jordy DeMott had two rebounds and a steal while Rylee Leishman had one rebound for the 'Cats.
• CWU finished the game shooting 40.7 percent from the floor, 26.1 percent on three-point attempts, and 57.1 percent at the free-throw line.
• They outrebounded the Griffins 39-38.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• The Wildcats now lead the all-time series 4-2 over WU.
• CWU is 3-0 inside Nicholson Arena against Westminster.
• The Wildcats have now won the last four meetings.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will conclude the CWU Thanksgiving Tournament tomorrow when they host Biola (0-6) at 2:00 p.m. from inside Nicholson Arena.