ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team will try and maintain their momentum as they head back on the road to take on the Saint Martin's Saints and the Western Oregon Wolves this week.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Thursday, January 23
5:15 p.m.
Central Washington at St. Martin's
Marcus Pavilion
Lacey, Wash.
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Saturday, January 25
2:00 p.m.
Central Washington at Western Oregon
New PE Building
Monmouth, Ore.
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LAST OUTINGS
 
The Wildcats had a huge weekend last weekend after earning a tough sweep at home. They used big first and fourth quarters to pull away from the Seattle Pacific Falcons 88-65 on Saturday before grinding to gain a late lead to eventually take down the 6th-ranked Yellowjackets of Montana State Billings 48-45 on Saturday.
 
Against SPU, the 'Cats saw a game from Asher Cai who had 23 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, one block, and seven steals. Sunny Huerta wasn't far behind with 22 points, adding five rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Annalee Coronado had a nice game contributing 18 points, five rebounds, and two assists off the bench. The Wildcats shot 53.1 percent from the floor, 52.6 percent from three, and 83.3 percent from the free-throw line. CWU won the rebound battle 40-37.
 
Huerta was the sole 'Cats in double-digits against the Yellowjackets finishing with 22 points, while adding seven rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal. Cai and Capri Sims both had eight rebounds with Cai adding four assists and two steals to lead the crimson and black in those respective categories while Sims had the other block for CWU. The Wildcats were 35.7 percent from the floor, 16.7 percent from three, and 62.5 percent at the free-throw line. MSUB finished ahead in the rebound battle 38-37.
 
LAST MEETINGS
 
The Wildcats and Saints last met in the regular season finale last season in Ellensburg with SMU sneaking away with a 49-47 victory on a buzzer-beater. Huerta was the sole Wildcat to finish in double-digits, with 18 points, going a perfect 11-11 at the free-throw line. She added six rebounds, three assists, one block, and three steals. Sims finished with eight points and led the 'Cats with nine rebounds and three blocks. CWU shot 30 percent from the floor, 20 percent from three, and 86.7 percent at the free-throw line. The Saints edged out CWU in the rebound battle 39-38.
 
The last time CWU and WOU met was back on Nov. 30, 2023, in Monmouth as the 'Cats came away with a 77-67 victory. Cai led the charge with a game-high 20 points while adding seven rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Huerta finished with a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds. Tori Maeda also tacked on 15 points while leading CWU with four assists. The Wildcats shot 44.1 percent from the floor, 47.4 percent from three, and 84.2 percent at the free-throw line. CWU dominated the boards 42-32.
 
SCOUTING THE SAINTS
 
SMU is 10-5 on the season including a 3-4 GNAC record. The Saints started out 4-0 on the season posting victories over Biola, Concordia Irvine, Evergreen State, and Cal State San Marcos before suffering their first defeat at Point Loma by a 59-46 score. The followed up the setback with a sweep at the SPU Thanksgiving Classic defeating Colorado Christian and Metro State. They split on the Alaska roadtrip to open GNAC play, falling at Alaska Anchorage by 20 before bouncing back for a 105-71 victory over Alaska Fairbanks. During the break they lost at Washington State in exhibition play before defeating Multnomah. They've gone 2-3 since diving back into GNAC play posting setbacks against Simon Fraser and Western Washington and at MSUB, but defeated Seattle Pacific and Western Oregon.
 
The Saints are outscoring their opponents 64.4 to 56.8 points per game. They're currently shooting 40.9 percent from the floor, 29.5 percent from three, and 76.5 percent at the free-throw line. They're outrebounding their opponents on average 36.1 to the 32.5 rebounds they're allowing their opponents. The Saints have averaged 13.5 assists per game this season and are winning the turnover battle 17.8 to the 19 turnovers they cause their opponents to make with 10.6 coming as steals. SMU is averaging 4.2 blocks per game this season.
 
Kiana Rios and Jada Travis are averaging 15.3 and 13 points per game, respectively to lead the Saints with Travis serving as the leader in the rebounding category, averaging 6.5 rebounds per game. Travis is also the leader in assists and steals at 59 and 34, respectively. Sarah Lamet guides the Saints with 18 blocks.
 
SCOUTING THE WOLVES
 
WOU is currently 7-8 on the season with a 3-4 GNAC record. The Wolves opened their campaign with a pair of victories over Multnomah and Corban, but then slipped with four-straight losses to Western Colorado, Willamette, Hawaii Hilo, and Cal State Dominguez Hills. They entered GNAC play with a road split, defeating Alaska Fairbanks by nine but falling to Alaska Anchorage by 67. Over the holidays they went 2-0 defeating Pacific (OR) and Cal Poly Humboldt at home. They've gone 2-3 since diving back into GNAC play posting a three-point victory over Simon Fraser at home and a road 11-point victory at Seattle Pacific while falling to Western Washington, MSUB, and St. Martin's.
 
The Wolves are getting outscored by their opponents 62.8 points per game to the 71.9 points they're giving up. WOU is averaging 35.7 percent from the floor, 32.5 percent from three, and 63.3 percent at the free-throw line. They're slightly winning the rebound battle 42.9 to the 42.1 their opponents are snatching. On average, the Wolves dish out 13 assists and cause 12.9 turnovers from their opponents with 4.8 coming as steals. However, WOU is averaging 16.7 turnovers themselves and two blocks per game.
 
Bella Pedrojetti is the leader of the Wolves with 16.4 points per game while Natalie Brown is the leading rebounder with 8.9 per game. Ciona Wells has contributed the most assists with 72 on the season. Enid Vaifanua has the most steals with 14 while Brown has the most blocks with 13.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Wildcats will start the second half of GNAC action with a tough road trip up to The Last Frontier. They first square off with the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves (16-2, 7-0 GNAC) on Thursday, January 30 with a 6:15 p.m. PST tip-off. They wrap up the weekend with a 1:00 p.m. PST tip-off at the Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks (5-10, 0-7 GNAC) on Saturday, February 1.