Box Score ELLENSBURG, Wash. – All five of Central's starters finished in double-digits in the Wildcats victory over Northwest Nazarene Saturday afternoon. Asher Cai and Shelby Blodgett each notched double-doubles with Cai adding 16 points and 10 rebounds and Blodgett finishing with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (81), Northwest Nazarene (69)
• Records: CWU (18-10, 9-7 GNAC), NNU (9-14, 6-10 GNAC)
• Location: Nicholson Arena, Ellensburg, Wash.

 
QUOTING HEAD COACH RANDI RICHARDSON-THORNLEY:
 
"I'm pleased with our team's response and effort today. NNU is a good team who plays hard and will challenge you on both sides of the ball. I was pleased with our team's effort to defend in transition, and I felt we had better intent on the ball to defend individuals tonight. Offensively, we stayed composed, shared the ball well with 18 assists, and had all five starters in double-figures. Our girls played a great game, and we did what we needed to do to secure our spot in the tournament. Now we must recover and give ourselves the best chance to finish out strong next week."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• The Nighthawks earned the first bucket of the game, but Sunny Huerta started a 9-0 run by the Wildcats seeing a bucket from Blodgett and a three and a layup from Capri Sims.
• NNU would break up the Wildcat's run but a layup and a pair of free-throws by Blodgett, a three from Annalee Coronado, and a free-throw from Olivia Huntsinger saw the Wildcat lead balloon out to 17-4 with 4:28 left in the first quarter.
• The Nighthawks would claw their way back to a seven-point deficit at the end of the first quarter with CWU leading 23-16.
• The Wildcats opened the second quarter with a pair of buckets from Cai and Sims to make it a double-digit lead for Central once again, 27-16.
• Another three by Coronado followed by buckets by Huerta and Sims put the 'Cats up 36-21 with 6:12 left in the quarter.
• NNU managed to cut the Wildcat lead down to single digits once again, but a three by Huerta would see Central take the 43-32 lead into halftime.
• The teams battled back-and-forth to open the third quarter but back-to-back threes by Huerta and Cai made it a 53-37 Wildcat lead forcing NNU to call a timeout.
• Out of the timeout NNU used a 11-4 run to wrap up the third quarter with CWU leading 57-48.
• Blodgett opened the fourth quarter by drilling a three followed by a layup to make it a 62-48 Wildcat lead.
• The Nighthawks managed to cut the Central lead down to nine sparking a quick five-straight points for the Wildcats to make the CWU lead 67-53.
• Both teams continued to go bucket-for-bucket as critical free throws down the stretch by Coronado and Sims clinched the 81-69 victory for Central.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• All five of Central's starters finished in double-digits led by Huerta with 18 points while adding two rebounds and five assists.
• Sims finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and three assists while Cai added 16 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks.
• Coronado contributed 14 points, three rebounds, five assists, and one steal.
• Blodgett set a new career-high during her time at Central with 13 points and 11 boards, adding one assist and two steals.
• Aliyah Finch nabbed two points while Huntsinger added one point and one board.
• Keira Marsh finished with three boards.
• The Wildcats finished the game shooting 53.6 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from three, and 73.7 percent at the free-throw line.
• CWU held the Nighthawks to 41.8 percent shooting on their field goal attempts, 28.6 percent from three, and 75 percent at the free-throw line.
• The Wildcats kept up their hot rebounding streak, outrebounding NNU 42-26.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• This was the 45th meeting between the two squads since 2003 with NNU holding the 30-15 advantage.
• The teams split the regular season series this year.
• The Wildcats are now 8-14 against NNU in Ellensburg.
• NNU holds the 30-13 advantage in conference matchups.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will welcome St. Martin's (6-17, 4-12 GNAC) for an evening showdown next Thursday the 29th from inside Nicholson Arena at 5:15 p.m.
• The Wildcats scheduled season finale next Saturday, March 2 has been canceled due to Western Oregon canceling the remainder of their season.