ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University women's basketball team fell in a classic rivalry thriller against the 19^th-ranked Western Washington Vikings Saturday evening. Asher Cai posted her eighth double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (60), #19 Western Washington (69)
• Records: CWU (15-10, 6-7 GNAC), WWU (19-4, 11-2 GNAC)
• Location: Nicholson Arena, Ellensburg, Wash.

 
QUOTING HEAD COACH RANDI RICHARDSON-THORNLEY:
 
"I'm proud of how our team played tonight and the growth we are showing. We had our opportunities in that game that we didn't capitalize on, and we fouled and turned the ball over at some critical points. In order to be a team of that caliber, we have to learn from those missed opportunities and mistakes. I am confident that this group will do that, and we will be better for it."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• The Vikings nabbed the first points of the game just 25 seconds into the contest, but Riley Johnson responded with a big three to make it 3-2 CWU.
• A three by the Vikings gave them a four-point lead starting a back-and-forth battle between the two squads for the rest of the quarter with WWU holding the 17-13 advantage after the first 10 minutes.
• WWU once again struck first to open the second quarter but was immediately responded to by Sunny Huerta who swished a jumper followed by a pair of free throws by Cai to make it 19-17 Vikings with 7:30 left in the second quarter.
•  The Vikings increased their lead back up to six before a 7-2 run by the 'Cats concluded with a three by Cai making it 25-24 WWU with 4:35 left in the quarter.
• A four-minute scoring drought by the 'Cats helped WWU increase their lead up to seven with a minute left in the half.
• Each team exchanged a free throw to make it 32-25 Western heading into halftime.
• The Vikings once again struck first to open the third quarter making it a nine-point lead for WWU, 34-25.
• A three from Annalee Coronado followed by a jumper and an and one by Cai cut the Viking lead back to three, 36-33 with 6:11 left in the quarter.
• Both teams continued to go bucket-for-bucket before back-to-back jumpers by Huerta made it a 40-38 Viking lead with 3:16 left in the quarter.
• A 9-2 run by the Vikings to end the quarter saw WWU lead 49-40 heading into the final 10 minutes of action.
• The Wildcats struck first to open the fourth quarter, but the Vikings responded to an and-one to increase their lead to double-digits, 52-42 with 9:25 left in the game.
• The Wildcats would respond with seven straight points to make it a one-possession game once again, 52-49 WWU with 6:38 left.
• Western responded with a 9-0 run of their own to give them their biggest lead of the night, 61-49 with 3:05 left in the game.
• A pair of free-throws and a three from Cai paired with a free-throw from Capri Sims gave the Wildcats a new breath of life, cutting the Viking lead to six, 61-55 with 49 seconds left.
• The Vikings would sink their free throws down the stretch to secure the 69-60 victory.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Huerta led the 'Cats on the night posting 21 points while grabbing six rebounds, one assist, one block, and two steals.
• Cai finished with her eighth double-double of the season with 20 points, 10 boards, three assists, and one block.
• Sims and Coronado each finished with six points apiece with Sims adding nine rebounds and a steal while Coronado finished with three board and two assists.
• Johnson finished the game with five points, three rebounds, and a block.
• Shelby Blodgett provided the sole bench points for CWU adding two points while also grabbing four boards and a steal.
• Malia Smith finished with a rebound and an assist while Keira Marsh grabbed a board and a steal.
• The Wildcats finished the night shooting 35.7 percent from the floor, 26.3 percent on three-point attempts, and 78.9 percent at the free-throw line.
• CWU held the Vikings to 45.8 percent from the floor, 23.1 percent from three, and 63.2 percent at the charity stripe.
• The Wildcats heavily won the rebound battle 42-32.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• This was the 64^th meeting between the two squads since 1996 with WWU holding the 53-11 advantage.
• The Wildcats are now on a five-game skid against the Vikings.
• The Wildcats are 5-24 inside Nicholson Arena against WWU.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats have a long trek ahead of them as they head up to Alaska next week.
• CWU will first take on Alaska Fairbanks (4-18, 2-10 GNAC) on Thursday for a 6:15 p.m. PST tip-off inside the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium.
• The crimson and black will then head south to Anchorage to take on the Seawolves of Alaska Anchorage (14-7, 8-4 GNAC) on Saturday with an 8:30 PST tip-off inside the Alaska Airlines Center.