LA MIRADA, Calif. – The Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team wrapped up the 2024 portion of their schedule and their Southern California trip with a convincing victory over the hosting Biola Eagles Saturday afternoon. Five different Wildcats finished in double-digits led by Asher Cai with 18 points. 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: #24 Central Washington (88), Biola (52) 
• Records: CWU (8-2, 1-0 GNAC), BU (1-11, 1-3 PacWest)
• Location: Chase Gymnasium, La Mirada, Calif. 

 
QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON:
 
"Happy to bounce back tonight with a win to finish out our trip. I was really pleased with our teams intent and our effort. We valued the basketball a lot better today, and shared it well which led to great looks."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: 
 

• The Wildcats and Eagles both exchanged buckets to open the game, but a layup by Cai started a 9-0 CWU run that forced Biola to take a timeout with the 'Cats up 18-6 with 3:35 left in the first. 
• The Eagles broke the scoring streak coming out of the timeout, but Malia Smith immediately responded with a three, but the Eagles would earn the final four points of the quarter to end the first with Central Washington leading 21-13. 
• Jaycee Goldsmith of BU converted a layup for the first points of the second quarter to cut the Wildcat lead to 21-15, but Aliyah Finch responded on the next possession to put the CWU lead back to eight. 
• Back-to-back buckets by Capri Sims put the 'Cats back up by double figures, 27-16 with 7:43 left in the second. 
• A three and a layup by Cai and a layup by Sims saw the Wildcats take the 34-19 lead heading into the media timeout. 
• The teams exchanged a couple buckets coming out of the media timeout, but a layup by Cai, a pair of free-throws by Annalee Coronado, and a buzzer-beating layup by Sims put CWU up 45-25 at the half. 
• The two teams came out of the half going bucket-for-bucket as the Wildcats would have a response for every bucket the Eagles mustered. 
• Back-to-back threes by Coronado and Emily Shaw helped put the 'Cats up 65-42 after three quarters. 
• The Wildcats continued to find the basket to open the fourth as a free-throw by Finch and another three from Shaw gave the 'Cats the 69-42 lead with 9:01 left. 
• Riley Johnson went on a 7-0 run of her own that was capped with a three from Keira Marsh to put the 'Cats up 82-46 with 4:46 left. 
• Back-to-back threes from Johnson and Shaw capped the scoring for CWU as Biola earned the final three points as the 'Cats cruised to the 88-52 victory. 

 
STATS FROM THE GAME: 
 

• Cai led CWU with 18 points, adding four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. 
• Sims found her scoring stride for a season-high producing 13 points while adding four rebounds, one assist. 
• Sunny Huerta added 12 points, four rebounds, four assists, and one steal. 
• Coronado saw double-figures for the second time this season with 10 points and added two rebounds, a team high five assists, and two steals. 
• Johnson earned 10 points while grabbing two rebounds while Shaw tacked on nine points and two assists. 
• Shelby Blodgett added seven points, a team high seven rebounds, one assist, and two steals. 
• Finch, Smith, and Marsh all finished with three points with Finch adding three rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Smith added two rebounds, one assist, and one steal while Marsh added one rebound. 
• Jordy DeMott had three rebounds and two assists.
• The Wildcats finished the game shooting a solid 50 percent from the floor, 45.5 percent from three, and 77.8 percent at the charity stripe. 
• CWU won the rebound battle 36-34. 

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• The Wildcats are 3-0 over Biola all-time. 
• This was CWU's first trip to La Mirada. 
• The crimson and black are 2-0 over Biola this season. 

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will look toward the 2025 portion of their schedule that'll be filled with GNACtion starting with hosting the Alaska schools. Fairbanks (5-5, 0-2 GNAC) comes to town first on Thursday, January 2 at 7:00 p.m. Anchorage (11-2, 2-0 GNAC) wraps up the weekend back in Ellensburg on Saturday, January 4 at 4:00 p.m.