BILLINGS, Mont. – The Central Washington University women's basketball team battled to the very end in a five-point setback at 17^th-ranked Montana State Billings Saturday night. Asher Cai led the Wildcats with 17 points. 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (70), #17 Montana State Billings (75)
• Records: CWU (14-9, 5-6 GNAC), MSUB (19-4 10-1 GNAC)
• Location: Alterowitz Gymnasium, Billings, Mont. 

 
QUOTING HEAD COACH RANDI RICHARDSON-THORNLEY:
 
"I am so incredibly proud of the resolve and fight our team showed tonight and in the last two weeks. We gave a very good team a battle on their home floor and took some major steps forward in becoming the team we know we can be. Our ladies showed composure and fight in the midst of challenges. I am very proud of this group."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• The Yellowjackets hustled out to a quick 6-0 lead to open the game before a pair of free-throws by Sunny Huerta put the 'Cats on the board. 
• The teams continued go to bucket-for-bucket until the Wildcats finished the quarter on a 7-0 run thanks to buckets from Cai and Huerta and a three from Malia Smith to put CWU up 18-17 at the end of one. 
• The Wildcats kept up the momentum from the end of the first quarter drilling seven-straight points to open the second quarter with buckets coming from Huerta and Capri Sims and a three from Shelby Blodgett to put CWU up 25-17 forcing MSUB to call a timeout. 
•  A 5-0 by the 'Jackets cut the wildcat lead to three, 27-24, but back-to-back-to-back threes from Cai, Blodgett, and Smith ballooned the Wildcat lead to 12, 36-24 with 2:18 left in the second quarter. 
• A layup by Blodgett would conclude the first half of action with CWU maintaining a 38-27 lead. 
• Both teams opened up the third quarter with another bucket-for-bucket battle before an 11-1 run by MSUB tied the game at 43 apiece with 4:52 left in the quarter.
• The 'Jackets built up a five-point lead that was responded to by a 5-0 run from the Wildcats thanks to a three from Smith and a layup by Sims to end the third quarter in a deadlock at 52 apiece. 
• The 'Jackets once again built up a five-point lead early in the fourth quarter that was once again responded to with a 5-0 run by CWU thanks to a jumper from Huerta and a three from Cai to tie the game at 59 apiece with 5:16 left. 
• MSUB once more built up a five-point lead, but a Riley Johnson three made it 64-62 MSUB with 3:21 left in the game. 
• Following a pair of free-throws by MSUB, Johnson drilled another three to make it 66-65 in favor of the 'Jackets with 1:52 left in the game. 
• Clutch free-throws by the 'Jackets would seal the deal in the end with MSUB coming away with a hard-fought 75-70 victory. 

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Cai led the Wildcats with 17 points adding on five rebounds, five assists, one block, and two steals. 
• Huerta tacked on 13 points to pair with her team-high six rebounds, five assists, and four steals. 
• Sims finished in double-figures again with 12 points while adding three rebounds and three steals. 
• Blodgett had a career-high 10 points while snagging five rebounds and dishing out three assists. 
• Smith contributed nine points while adding one rebound, three assists, and one steal. 
• Johnson added six pints, one rebound, and one block. 
• Annalee Coronado added three points with one assist. 
• Olivia Huntsinger grabbed one rebound. 
• The Wildcats finished the night shooting 46.6 percent from the floor, 36.7 percent on three-point attempts, and 83.3 percent from the free-throw line. 
• The Wildcats held the 'Jackets to 40 percent from the floor, 22.2 percent on three attempts, and 93.1 percent at the free-throw line. 
• The Yellowjackets won the rebounding battle handedly 38-24. 
• MSUB went to the free-throw line 23 more times than the Wildcats. 

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• This was the 38^th meeting between the two schools since 2003 with MSUB holding the 22-16 edge. 
• The Yellowjackets are on a four-game winning streak. 
• The Wildcats are 7-9 in Billings. 

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will be back home for another weekend of big games first welcoming Simon Fraser (13-11, 5-6 GNAC) for a Thursday night battle at 5:15 p.m. 
• The Wildcats will then host 13^th-ranked arch-rival Western Washington (17-4, 9-2 GNAC) on Saturday with a 4:00 p.m. tip-off.