SEATTLE – The Central Washington University women's basketball team fell in game one of the weekend road trip to Seattle Pacific Thursday night. Cai led the way for CWU with 26 points in the setback.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
- Final: Central Washington (65), Seattle Pacific (76)
- Records: CWU (14-8, 5-5 GNAC), SPU (7-13, 4-6 GNAC)
- Location: Royal Brougham Pavilion, Seattle, Wash.
QUOTING HEAD COACH RANDI RICHARDSON-THORNLEY:
"Another disappointing performance for us. We have some major things to figure out as we lack consistency to commit to who we game plans and adjustments to formulate stops and score together. Credit to SPU. They played a great game and had some players really step up tonight."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Asher Cai helped the Wildcats strike first to open the game giving the Wildcats a quick 2-0 lead.
- The Falcons would respond 30 seconds later to tie the game sparking a 9-0 run for the Falcons giving SPU the 9-2 lead heading into the media timeout.
- Malia Smith ended the streak for the Wildcats draining a three-pointer making it 9-5 SPU.
- A three by Cai cut the SPU lead to four, 14-10, but a three to end the quarter gave SPU the 17-10 lead.
- Cai hit a layup to open the second quarter sparking a back-and-forth affair between the two teams.
- A free throw by Keira Marsh was responded by SPU with a layup giving the Falcons a double-digit lead, 30-20 with 4:59 left in the quarter.
- A layup by Marsh followed by a three from Sunny Huerta diced the Falcon lead to six, 34-28 prompting SPU to call a timeout with 2:02 left in the quarter.
- SPU responded after the timeout with a three and a jumper to increase their lead to 11, 39-28 heading into halftime.
- Riley Johnson opened the second half with a big three followed by a Cai layup made it 39-33 SPU with 8:47 left in the quarter.
- A jumper by Huerta followed by a three from Cai cut it to a four-point game, 47-43 SPU with 2:34 left in the quarter.
- A pair of free throws and a layup by SPU made it a 54-46 Falcon lead to enter the final 10 minutes of play.
- Sims opened the fourth quarter with a layup which was immediately answered by SPU with four-straight points to put the Falcons back up by double-digits 58-48 with 8:33 left in the game.
- Seven-straight points by SPU made it a 66-48 lead for the Falcons with 6:02 left in the game.
- The Wildcats wouldn't go quietly as a three from Smith capped a 10-0 run by CWU making it 66-58 SPU with 1:58 left in the game.
- Using stiff defense and forcing SPU to earn it from the charity stripe the Wildcats cut it to seven points thanks to a three from Cai, 70-63 with 53 seconds to go.
- Ultimately, the Falcons would drill their free-throws to win the game 76-65.
STATS FROM THE GAME:
- Cai led the way for the Wildcats with 26 points adding eight rebounds, one assist, and two steals.
- Huerta finished with 15 points adding four rebounds, two assists, and six steals.
- Sims had 10 points, seven rebounds, one assist, and two steals.
- Smith drained six points and three assists.
- Johnson and Marsh each added three points with Johnson also grabbing one rebound and Marsh adding one assist.
- Annalee Coronado finished with two points, five rebounds, and one assist.
- The Wildcats finished the night shooting 36.1 percent from the floor, 39.1 percent on three-point attempts, and 70.6 percent at the free-throw line.
- The Falcons finished the night shooting 41.9 percent from the floor, 47.1 percent from three, and 88.9 percent at the free-throw line.
- The Falcons won the rebound battle 45-31.
SERIES HISTORY:
- SPU now leads the series 31-11.
- The Wildcats were on a two-game winning streak prior to Thursday night.
- The Wildcats are now 3-18 inside Royal Brougham Pavilion.
UP NEXT:
- The Wildcats will have a tall task ahead as they make the trek out to Billings, Mont. for a Saturday afternoon battle at 17th-ranked Montana State Billings (18-4, 9-1 GNAC) at 4:00 p.m. inside Alterowitz Gymnasium.
