BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team suffered a heartbreaker on the road to the hands of rival Western Washington Saturday evening. Asher Cai led the Wildcats with 24 points. 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (65), Western Washington (67)
• Records: CWU (10-4, 3-2 GNAC), WWU (9-6, 4-2 GNAC)
• Location: WECU Court at Carver Gym, Bellingham, Wash. 

 
QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON:
 
"I was pleased with our team's effort and intent tonight. We didn't close out a game in the fourth and made critical mistakes down the stretch while WWU made big plays. Credit them for their fourth quarter execution. There are some good takeaways from this one but also some big takeaways that we have to learn and grow from."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• The Wildcats started the game out strong seeing buckets from Shelby Blodgett, Cai, and Capri Sims to put the 'Cats up 6-0 early. 
• WWU mustered their first bucket but was immediately responded to by Malia Smith draining a three to make it 9-2 'Cats. 
• Back-to-back baskets by Cai saw the Wildcat lead extend to double-digits, 13-2 with 4:32 left in the first. 
• WWU used a 5-0 run to cut their deficit to 13-7 CWU, but buckets from Cai and Huerta to end the quarter saw the Wildcats take the 17-7 lead after the first 10 minutes. 
• Huerta and Cai opened the second quarter with a bang with back-to-back treys to make it 23-7 CWU just a little over a minute into the quarter. 
• A 7-0 run by the Vikes put them right back into the game as they only trailed 25-16 with 5:38 left in the quarter. 
• A three by Cai, a layup by Riley Johnson, and a layup from Sims saw the CWU lead extend back to 16, 32-16. 
• A 6-2 run by WWU to end the first half saw the Wildcats take the 34-24 lead heading into halftime. 
• The Wildcats kept things rolling open the third quarter as Huerta and Cai earned buckets to make it 38-24 CWU. 
• A free-throw from Blodgett and a layup from Annalee Coronado made it a 45-30 CWU lead with 3:39 left in the third. 
• The teams continued in a back-and-forth affair with CWU leading 51-40 heading into the final 10 minutes. 
• WWU started the fourth with three quick points, but layups from Sims and Coronado and a three from Cai ballooned the lead back out to 13, 58-45 with 8:04 left. 
• A 15-2 run by the Vikings over the next six minutes tied the game up at 60 apiece. 
• The Vikings took the lead with 1:28 left, but Sims tied things up with 1:13 left. 
• A jumper from Demi Dykstra and a pair of free-throws by Maddy Grandbois put the Vikings up 66-62 with six seconds left. 
• Cai gave the 'Cats a breath of hope with a huge three to cut it to 66-65 WWU, but a free-throw and a steal on the throw-in by the Vikings sealed the 67-65 victory. 

 
STATS FROM THE GAME: 
 

• Cai led all scores with 24 points, nine rebounds, two assists, one block, and three steals. 
• Sims had 14 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. 
• Huerta had nine points, four rebounds, and led the 'Cats with seven assists. 
• Smith had six points to go with one assist while Blodgett and Coronado each had four points with Blodgett adding two rebounds, one assist, and one steal while Coronado added one assist. 
• Johnson and Aliyah Finch each had two points with Johnson adding one rebound and one steal while Finch tacked on one rebound, one block, and one steal. 
• Keira Marsh added one assist. 
• The Wildcats finished the night shooting 43.1 percent from the floor, 31.8 percent from three, and 61.5 percent at the free-throw line. 
• WWU shot 42.1 percent from the floor, 28.6 percent from three, and 83.3 percent at the free-throw line. 
• The Vikings won the rebound battle 32-31. 

 
SERIES HISTORY: 
 

• The Vikings lead the all-time series 64-11 since 1990. 
• WWU holds a six-game win-streak over the 'Cats. 
• CWU is 5-30 inside Carver Gym. 

 
UP NEXT: 
 

• The Wildcats will be back in Nicholson Arena for a huge weekend starting with in-state rival Seattle Pacific (6-12, 0-5 GNAC) coming to Ellensburg for a Thursday evening showdown at 5:15 p.m. The weekend wraps up when 5th-ranked and GNAC-leader Montana State Billings (16-2, 5-0 GNAC) clashes with the Wildcats in Ellensburg on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.