ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team wrapped up hosting the CWU Thanksgiving Tournament with a hard-fought 59-48 victory over the Biola Eagles Saturday afternoon. Sunny Huerta led the game with 21 points.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (59), Biola (48)
• Records: CWU (6-0), BU (0-7)
• Location: Nicholson Arena, Ellensburg, Wash.

 
QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON:
 
"I was pleased with our defense this whole weekend. Today our defense sustained us in the second half and allowed for us to find a way to stretch the lead a bit. I was pleased with our team's composure when Biola pulled within two in the fourth, and with how they found a way to bounce back with some critical offensive possessions to stretch it back out. We have a lot of take aways that are positive from this weekend, and some good points of emphasis to improve upon heading into conference next weekend."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• The Wildcats took the quick 2-0 lead just 50 seconds into the game when Shelby Blodgett converted a layup, but the Eagles got on the board just under a minute later with a layup of their own that was quickly responded to by a bucket from Huerta to make it 4-2 CWU.
• Another layup by Huerta put CWU up 6-2, but a 14-0 run by Biola over the next four minutes saw the Eagles take the 16-6 lead with 2:25 left in the first.
• The Wildcats responded by earning the final four points of the quarter with buckets from Huerta and Annalee Coronado to trail 16-10 after the first 10 minutes.
• The teams exchanged buckets to open the second as Biola maintained a six-point lead at 22-16 with 5:37 left in the quarter.
• A three-pointer by Asher Cai and a pair of free-throws by Huerta made it a one-point game with 4:27 left at 22-21 with Biola in the lead.
• The Eagles earned a free-throw, but a bucket by Huerta and a layup by Keira Marsh gave CWU the 25-23 lead with 2:20 left in the second.
• Biola drained a pair of free-throws to end the first half knotted up at 25.
• CWU came out of halftime blazing with a 12-0 run to make it 37-25 with 4:26 left in the third.
• BU fought back and made it a 39-35 game, but a three by Huerta to end the third put CWU up 42-35 entering the final 10 minutes of the game.
• Huerta picked up right where she left off drilling another three to start the fourth and put CWU up 45-35 in the meantime.
• Once again the Eagles fought back and made it a two-point game at 45-43, but another three from Huerta ended the drought sparking a 10-0 run by the 'Cats to lead 55-43 with 3:46 left.
• Both teams exchanged a pair of buckets to seal the 59-48 victory for CWU.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Huerta led the game with 21 points, adding six rebounds and four assists.
• Cai racked up 18 points and contributed nine rebounds, two assists, and four steals.
• Coronado and Blodgett each finished with six points with Coronado adding three assists, one block, and one steal while Blodgett added two rebounds.
• Aliyah Finch added four points and two rebounds off the bench while Marsh added two points, one rebound, and two blocks.
• Capri Sims had two points, one assist, one block, and led CWU with 10 rebounds.
• Rylee Leishman added one assist while Jordy DeMott and Malia Smith each had one rebound with DeMott adding one steal as well.
• On the day the 'Cats shot 39.3 percent from the floor, 26.1 percent from three, and 64.3 percent at the free-throw line.
• The Wildcats outrebounded Biola 41-31.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• The Wildcats now hold the 2-0 series lead over BU.
• CWU won the only other meeting back on November 19, 2005, in Seattle by a 59-56 score.
• The two squads will collide once more this season in three weeks when CWU travels down to La Mirada, Calif. for a December 21 battle inside Chase Gymnasium at 2:30 p.m.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will head into GNAC play when they welcome Northwest Nazarene (5-3) for a Saturday, December 7 battle at 1:00 p.m. from inside Nicholson Arena.