ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team (7-0, 1-0 GNAC) will head once again into nonconference action with a trifecta of games in southern California over the holiday break to conclude the 2024 portion of the season.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Wednesday, December 18
2:00 p.m.
RV Central Washington @ #9 Cal State Dominguez Hills
Torodome
Carson, Calif.
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Thursday, December 19
5:30 p.m.
RV Central Washington @ RV Cal State Los Angeles
University Gym
Los Angeles, Calif.
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Saturday, December 21
2:30 p.m.
RV Central Washington @ Biola
Chase Gymnasium
La Mirada, Calif.
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QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON

"We are excited to hit the road for three great west region games. We will be challenged in ways vs DH and LA that will be really good tests for us heading into conference after break with their pressure, athleticism, and physicality on the boards. This will also be the second time we've seen Biola and I'm excited to see how we can adjust and improve from the first game. We look forward to the challenge and continuing on our journey of continued growth as a group."

LAST OUTING
 
The Wildcats opened GNAC-play hosting Northwest Nazarene back on December 7 with CWU coming out on top 74-60.
 
The crimson and black had four different athletes finish in double-digits, led by Shelby Blodgett who had arguably her best game in a Central jersey with 15 points, eight rebounds, and four steals. Annalee Coronado tacked on 12 points, five rebounds, three assists, and one block while both Sunny Huerta and Asher Cai finished with 11 points. Huerta added three rebounds, five assists, and two steals while Cai tacked on nine rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. Capri Sims led the 'Cats with 11 rebounds while adding eight points, three assists, and five steals.
 
CWU finished the game shooting 41 percent from the floor, 32 percent from three-point range, and 80 percent at the free-throw line. The 'Cats outrebounded NNU 47-38.
 
LAST MEETINGS
 
CWU and CSUDH last met on December 17, 2018, when the Toros squeaked out an 86-83 victory inside the Torodome. CWU had five different players finish in double-figures led by Kaelie Flores with 19 points while JonNae Richardson had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
 
The Wildcats and Golden Eagles met last season in Ellensburg with LA coming out victorious 90-77 on November 14, 2023. Cai balled out with 28 points while Huerta and Malia Smith each tacked on 17 points.
 
Biola came to Ellensburg for the CWU Thanksgiving Tournament last month and the Wildcats prevailed with a second half surge to win 59-48. Huerta finished with 21 points while Cai wasn't far behind with 18.
 
SCOUTING THE #9 TOROS
 
Cal State Dominguez Hills is also undefeated on their season at 10-0 and 3-0 in CCAA play. They earned a pair of victories over GNAC foes Western Washington and Seattle Pacific in the CCAA/GNAC Crossover. They then earned home victories over Point Loma, Bethesda, and Dominican before taking down Cal State LA in their CCAA-opener and first road game. They then traveled to Hawaii and earned a pair of victories over Western Oregon and Northern State before heading back to SoCal and taking down Cal State Monterey Bay and Stanislaus State in CCAA action. Last Saturday they defeated Hope International in exhibition play.
 
The Toros are outscoring their opponents 78 points per game to the 51.3 points their opponents are scoring. As a collective, DH is shooting 41.7 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from three, and 67.2 percent at the free-throw line. The Toros are outrebounding their opponents 43.3 rebounds per game to the 34.7 rebounds their opponents are earning. CSUDH is averaging 16.6 assists per game, 15.2 turnovers per game, 16.1 steals per game, and 2.5 blocks per game.
 
Nala Williams and Asia Jordan have been a two-headed monster for the Toros so far this season averaging 16.2 and 15.4 points per game, respectively. Williams leads the Toros with 37 assists and 44 steals while Jordan leads the team with 7.4 rebounds per game. Kya Pearson is the leader in blocks with six on the season.
 
SCOUTING THE RV GOLDEN EAGLES
 
LA is currently 6-1 on the season and 2-1 in CCAA play. They fell in their three exhibition matches at NCAA Division I schools Arizona, Stanford, and Long Beach State. In their regular season opening weekend, they defeated fellow GNAC members Seattle Pacific and Western Washington in the CCAA/GNAC Crossover. They then defeated Concordia Irvine and nationally ranked Azusa Pacific at home before suffering their sole defeat of the year in their CCAA-opener against Cal State Dominguez Hills. They bounced back to take down Stanislaus State and Cal State Monterey Bay at home to earn their first two CCAA victories.
 
The Golden Eagles are currently outscoring their opponents 70.7 points per game to the 61.4 points their opponents are averaging. They're currently shooting 40.5 percent from the floor, 37.9 percent from three, and 77.7 percent at the free-throw line. LA is slightly outrebounding their opponents 40.6 to 39.4 rebounds per game. They're averaging 13.9 assists per game, 18.9 turnovers per game, 6.9 steals per game, and 7.1 blocks per game.
 
There are three Golden Eagles averaging in double-figures led by Lily Buggs with 13.1 points per game. Gabriella Rones and Olivia Hodges are averaging 11.3 and 11.1 points per game, respectfully, with Hodges leading LA with 10 rebounds per game. Buggs has dished out the most assists and swatted the most blocks for LA this season with 20 assists and 10 blocks. Nevaeh Asiasi has earned the most steals for CSULA with 12 on the year.
 
 SCOUTING THE EAGLES
 
Biola is currently 1-10 on the season and 1-3 in PacWest play. They opened their season getting swept against Saint Martin's and at Cal State San Bernardino before dropping three home contests, first to Cal Poly Pomona, then to Alaska Anchorage, and finally to Regis. The Eagles traveled up to Ellensburg for the CWU Thanksgiving Tournament where they fell first to Western Washington, then to CWU. They bounced back for their first win of the year over Concordia Irvine in their PacWest opener before dropping three road conference games, first at Fresno Pacific, then at Point Loma, and finally at Vanguard.
 
The Eagles are currently getting outscored by their opponents 62.4 to the Eagles 50.2 points per game. Collectively, BU is shooting 36.7 percent from the floor, 25.4 percent from three, and 73.3 percent at the free-throw line. They're getting outrebounded 37.7 to 32.5 rebounds per game. BU is averaging 11.7 assists per game, 18.7 turnovers per game, 7.2 steals per game, and 1.6 blocks per game.
 
BU is led by Sammie Henley and Jessa Thurman who are the only Eagles in double-figures at 11.7 and 10.6 points per game, respectively. Thurman also serves as the leader in the rebounding category at 6.4 rebounds per game. Laila Walker has contributed the most assists at 38 on the season while Henley has the most steals at 22 and Jaycee Goldsmith has the most blocks with six.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Wildcats will dive into the holiday break and return in 2025 when they host Alaska Fairbanks (5-4, 0-2 GNAC) and Alaska Anchorage (10-1, 2-0 GNAC) to resume GNAC play. UAF comes to Ellensburg first on Thursday, January 2 with tip-off set for 7:00 p.m. The Wildcats will wrap up the weekend hosting UAA on Saturday, January 4 with tip-off set for 4:00 p.m. with all the action happening inside Nicholson Arena.