ELLENSBURG, Wash. - The Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team officially opens their season hosting the CCAA-GNAC Crossover in Nicholson Arena over the weekend. Northwest Nazarene will join the 'Cats as the two squads take on CCAA members Cal State East Bay and Stanislaus State.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, Nov. 8
Northwest Nazarene vs. Cal State East Bay at 10:30 a.m.
Central Washington vs. Stanislaus State at 12:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 9
Northwest Nazarene vs. Stanislaus State at 9:00 a.m.
Central Washington vs. Cal State East Bay at 3:30 p.m.
TOURNAMENT PARKING INFORMATION
Friday's games will occur during Campus Parking Enforcement hours of operation. Due to that, patrons will need a guest parking pass if you don't already have a CWU pass in order to park in the paved parking lots closest to Nicholson Arena (Lots Q-14 and S-10). The dirt parking lot by Tomlinson Stadium is free to park (Lot X-12) as well as free parking along East 18th avenue.
To purchase a daily guest pass click
HERE
To view a campus parking map click
HERE
On Saturday, parking will be enforced starting at 3:30 p.m. in preparation for the CWU Football Game at 6:00 p.m., but you can park in Lots Q-14 and S-10 before 3:30 p.m. free of charge.
GAME INFORMATION
Friday, November 8
12:30 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Stanislaus State
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Wash.
WATCH LIVE STATS TICKETS
Saturday, November 9
3:30 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Cal State East Bay
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Wash.
WATCH LIVE STATS TICKETS
QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON
"We're very excited to start the 2024-25 season at home in our crossover. We have two very competitive regional games to start. It is vital that we prepare at the highest level to give ourselves some confidence and the best chance of success against our very well respected opponents in Stanislaus State and Cal State East Bay."
LAST SEASON
The Wildcats finished last season with a 19-12 overall record going 10-8 in GNAC play. CWU earned the fourth seed in the GNAC Tournament defeating fifth seed Simon Fraser 65-51 in the first round before a heart-breaking 62-60 semifinal exit to the top-seeded Montana State Billings Yellowjackets. The Wildcats earned a 64-61 victory over seventh-ranked UT Tyler in the CCA DII Canadian Tip-Off Classic in Canada to open the season and saw an eight-game win-streak during the season heading into the holiday break. They also became the first GNAC women's basketball team to sweep the Alaska road trip over the weekend of Feb. 15-17.
CWU was led by the trio of 2024-25 Preseason GNAC All-Conference members
Asher Cai,
Capri Sims, and GNAC Preseason Player of the Year
Sunny Huerta and did not lose a member from the 2023-24 squad in the offseason. All three athletes finished in the top 50 in the entirety of NCAA Division II in multiple categories last season.
Huerta, a senior guard, eclipsed the 1,000-point mark last season during her 30-dime game against Minnesota State Moorhead. She finished last season averaging 17.9 points per game and led the 'Cats with 108 assists and 42 steals on the season. Huerta had 554 total points last season which ranked 23rd total in the entirety of NCAA Division II and she tied for the 26th-most field goals made in Division II on the season with 206. This is her second-straight GNAC Preseason All-Conference Team honor.
Cai, a junior guard, eclipsed the 1,000-point mark in the final game of the regular season against St. Martin's and finished the season with 605 points and led the crimson and black with 275 total rebounds last season. She ranked 14th in the nation in points per game in Division II last year, 28th in the nation for field goals made (205) and was 39th in the nation in total rebounds last year. Sims, a sophomore forward, took over a starting role quickly after the start of the season and did not disappoint. She averaged 9.5 points per game and added 8.2 rebounds per game adding in eight double-doubles. Sims played a crucial role in helping the 'Cats become the first team in the GNAC last season to sweep the Alaska trip. She'll look to make more major contributions this season.
LAST MEETINGS
The Wildcats participated in this same crossover a season ago with Cal State East Bay hosting down in Hayward, Calif. last Nov. 10 and 11.
Against the hosting Pioneers, the 'Cats came away with the 70-63 overtime victory. Huerta finished with 22 points while
Annalee Coronado finished with 19 points. Cai and Sims both notched double-doubles with Cai finishing with 15 points and 14 rebounds and Sims adding 13 points and 15 rebounds.
CWU scrapped their way to a 66-58 victory thanks to a second half outburst after heading into halftime tied. Cai had herself a game finishing with 24 points and 21 rebounds and Huerta adding 13 points. Sims had eight points, 12 rebounds, and four steals. Coronado added seven points while
Malia Smith tacked on six from the bench.
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS
Stan State finished last season with a 15-17 overall record, going 10-12 in CCAA play. They defeated NCAA Tournament teams Cal State LA and Cal Poly Pomona each once last season as well as GNAC opponents Seattle Pacific and Northwest Nazarene. They are led by 13th-year Head Coach Wayman Strickland.
The Warriors have a different look in 2024-25 returning only four athletes from the 2023-24 squad. Among those that have departed is their top five scorers from a season ago as well as their top three rebounders. Junior Jadyn Patterson is the top returner after averaging five points per game and 1.5 rebounds per game adding 25 assists and 25 steals in 32 games played with 13 being starts.
Among the seven newcomers to the Warriors, five are transfers and two are freshmen. Alyssa Premo and Daja Scott-Mitchell look to make immediate impacts as Premo transferred in from Sierra College where she was a First Team All-Conference members and two-time Player of the Week. Scott-Mitchell transferred in from La Sierra University where she recorded nine double-doubles, earned Second Team All-Conference and prior to that played at Hartnell College where she earned First Team All-Conference honors in both seasons. Freshman Quinn Garrett should also make waves for Stan State after attending Damonte Ranch High School in Reno, Nev. Where she was named to the Class 4A First Team All-Region Team after averaging 16.5 points per game.
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
Cal State East Bay finished last season with an 11-17 record, going 9-13 in CCAA play. They defeated NCAA Tournament teams Cal State LA and Cal Poly Pomona each once as well as Northwest Nazarene last season. They are led by third year Head Coach Jenny Thigpin.
The Pioneers fell 71-58 at Sacramento State in exhibition play on Oct. 28. Ariyah Smith finished with 24 total points adding four rebounds, four assists, and two steals and finished as the only Pioneer in double-digits. Kayla Rosemon added nine points and two rebounds while Aunika Hornung finished with six points, eight rebounds, and six blocks. Rosemon is the leader of the returners after averaging 7.8 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game while adding 23 assists, 19 steals, and three blocks in 28 games played last season. The Pioneers lost their top three scorers and three of their top four rebounders from a season ago.
CSUEB has six newcomers to the roster this season, three transfers and three freshmen. Taylor Eldredge will be a name to watch after averaging 15.3 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game last season at Shoreline Community College. Krista Sheaffer is a freshman from Sanger High School in Fresno, Calif. and will be looking to jumpstart her collegiate career after scoring over 2,000 points at SHS.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will head down to California to participate in the GNAC-PacWest Crossover hosted by Westmont next Friday and Saturday. CWU will take on NCAA Division II newcomers Vanguard on Friday, Nov. 15 at 5:00 p.m. and then on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. will clash with the hosting Warriors of Westmont with all the action coming from Murchison Gymnasium in Santa Barbara, Calif.
