FAIRBANKS, Alaska- The Central Washington University women's basketball team opened their Alaskan road trip with a victory over the Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks Thursday night. Sunny Huerta led the Wildcats with 22 points. 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (78), Alaska Fairbanks (61)
• Records: CWU (16-10, 7-7 GNAC), UAF (4-19, 2-11 GNAC)
• Location: Alaska Airlines Gymnasium, Fairbanks, Alaska

 
QUOTING HEAD COACH RANDI RICHARDSON-THORNLEY:
 
"I'm pleased with our team tonight. I felt we played well on both sides of the ball and had players really step up to help us come out with this win. Sunny was a consistent scorer for us all night, especially when UAF tried to make their runs. Capri and Asher both had big nights on the boards as well as scoring for us, and Sunny and Anna really shared the ball well for us tonight. Everyone contributed to this win. I'm proud of the growth we are showing. Now it's onto the recovery battle for another big night Saturday."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• The 'Nooks opened the game with a quick four points to make it 4-0 only a minute into the game. 
• Asher Cai opened the scoring for the Wildcats at the 8:18 mark with a three-pointer that was followed up by a layup from Shelby Blodgett on the next CWU possession to make it 5-4 Wildcats with 7:46 left in the first quarter. 
• A three followed by a jumper from Fairbanks put the Nanooks up by six, 13-7 with 6:03 left in the first quarter. 
• A three by Malia Smith paired with a jumper from Cai made it 15-14 UAF with 4:18 left in the first quarter. 
• Back-to-back threes by Capri Sims and Smith put the 'Cats up three 20-17 with 3:13 left in the first quarter. 
• The Wildcats ended the first quarter with a three from Olivia Huntsinger and a jumper from Cai to make it 25-19 CWU after the first 10 minutes. 
• The Wildcats opened the second quarter with seven-straight points to make it 32-19 with eight minutes left in the quarter. 
• Both teams continued to exchange buckets before a three by Sims and a jumper from Huerta put the 'Cats up 41-25 with 3:07 left in the second quarter. 
• A 10-2 run by the 'Nooks brought them within single digits with 38 seconds left in the quarter with the Wildcats leading 43-35. 
• The Wildcats would secure the final four points of the first half thanks to a pair of free throws from Cai and a layup from Sims to make it 47-35 Wildcats heading into the break. 
• The Wildcats kept up their offensive onslaught with the first five points to start the third quarter to make it 52-35 Wildcats.
• Eight-straight points for the Wildcats thanks to a three and a pair of free throws by Sims and a three from Cai ballooned the Wildcat lead to 23, 65-42 with 3:18 left in the third quarter. 
• Huerta would drain the final jumper of the third quarter to make it 67-44 Wildcats headed into the final 10 minutes of play. 
• Alaska Fairbanks would nab the first score of the fourth quarter but was immediately responded to by a free throw from Blodgett and a jumper from Huerta to put CWU up 70-46 with 8:40 left in the game. 
• A 6-0 run by the Nanooks was broken up by Sims who put up a layup to make the game 74-55 in favor of CWU with 3:45 to go. 
• A three by Keira Marsh would be the final points for the Wildcats as Central would cruise to the 78-61 victory in Fairbanks. 

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Huerta led all scores in the game with 22 points adding two rebounds and seven assists. 
• Sims recorded her seventh double-double of her young collegiate career adding 20 points, 13 rebounds, and one assist. 
• Cai finished with her ninth double-double of the season and her third straight adding 18 points, 15 rebounds, one assist, and three steals. 
• Smith added nine points as the leader off the bench while also having one assist. 
• Blodgett finished with three points and five rebounds while Huntsinger also had three points, one rebound, one assist, and two steals. 
• Marsh finished with three points, one rebound, and one assist. 
• Annalee Coronado finished the game with two rebounds, seven assists, and one steal while Rylee Leishman finished with two steals. 
• The Wildcats finished shooting 46.8 percent from the floor, 31.4 percent on three-point attempts, and 60 percent at the free-throw line. 
• UAF finished the game shooting 38.7 percent from the floor, 36.4 percent on three-point attempts, and 75 percent at the charity stripe. 
• The Wildcats dominated the rebounding battle 43-30 against one of the best rebounding teams in the nation.  

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• This was the 42nd meeting between the two squads since 2003 with the Wildcats owning the series 32-10. 
• The Wildcats increased their win-streak to 13 over the Nanooks.
• Central has gone 15-7 up in Fairbanks. 

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will head south to take on the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves for a Saturday night matchup at 8:30 p.m. from inside the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.