BURNABY, B.C. – The Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team rebounded in a huge way Thursday evening as they went north of the border and defeated a tough Simon Fraser squad. Asher Cai once again led the 'Cats with her third-straight 20-plus point performance, putting up 22 points on the night. 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
 

• Final: Central Washington (82), Simon Fraser (70)
• Records: CWU (10-3, 3-1 GNAC), SFU (9-5, 2-3 GNAC)
• Location: West Gym, Burnaby, B.C. 

 
QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON

"I'm pleased with how our team settled in and started to put stops and scores together in the second quarter. Our offense was efficient and balanced throughout the game. We had great contributions from everyone which is something we can continue to build upon. Now it's onto the recovery battle." 

HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• The Wildcats started out blazing as Malia Smith drilled back-to-back three's followed by a three from Cai to make it a quick 9-0 lead. 
• SFU responded with a quick three that sparked a 10-2 run to make it an 11-10 CWU lead in a little over a minute. 
• The Red Leafs earned their first lead of the game one a layup from Sahnya Gill that sparked a back-and-forth affair for the rest of the quarter as the Red Leafs took the 18-17 lead after the first 10 minutes. 
• Simon Fraser earned the first points of the second quarter to take a three-point lead, but was immediately responded to by Shelby Blodgett with a three of her own to tie the game at 20 apiece. 
• Once again the teams engaged in a back-and-forth affair until a jumper and a layup by the Red Leafs forced Coach Richardson to call a timeout with SFU leading 29-26 with six minutes left in the second. 
• A layup by Sunny Huerta and another three from Smith put the 'Cats in the lead and they didn't look back, sparking a 20-3 run to end the second quarter and send the 'Cats to the halftime break up 46-32. 
• Simon Fraser saw Sophia Wisotzki score a layup for the first points of the second half, but that only got Capri Sims going as she dominated the paint to score the first six points for CWU to give the 'Cats the 52-34 lead. 
• A 6-0 run by Simon Fraser once again made it a 12-point lead, but a three by Huerta extended it back out to 15, 55-40 with 4:53 left in the third. 
• The teams once again continued their back-and-forth tussle as the 'Cats had an answer for any bucket the Red Leafs scored to try and get back into the game, but a layup by Huerta ended the third quarter and  made it a 69-50 crimson and black lead. 
• Aliyah Finch put in some work in the paint to open the fourth, but it paid off as she earned the first four points of the quarter and put CWU up 25, 73-50 with 9:02 left. 
• A jumper by Cai gave the crimson and black their biggest lead of the night with 6:42 left in the game and the 'Cats up 79-53. 
• The Red Leafs wouldn't go quietly as they used an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to 79-64, but a three by Riley Johnson stopped the run and made it 82-64 CWU with 2:41 left. 
• SFU earned the final six points of the game, but the 'Cats earned the 82-70 victory. 

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Cai led the 'Cats with 22 points and nine rebounds while adding three assists, and three steals. 
• Smith went a perfect 6/6 from three-point attempts for 18 points and collected one rebound and one steal. 
• Huerta added 17 points, five rebounds, six assists, and two steals. 
• Sims also finished in double-digits with 13 points adding six rebounds and two assists. 
• Blodgett tacked on five points and two rebounds while Finch and Johnson added four and three points with each having a steal and Johnson having two rebounds with Finch having one. 
• Annalee Coronado led the team with seven assists, adding three rebounds and one steal while Jordy DeMott had two rebounds and a steal. 
• The 'Cats finished the game shooting 52.7 percent from the floor, 44 percent from three, and a perfect 13-13 at the free-throw line. 
• CWU led the Red Leafs to 39.7 percent shooting from the floor, 26.7 percent shooting from three, and 69.6 percent shooting from the free-throw line. 
• The Wildcats earned a big victory in the rebound battle by a 39-29 margin. 

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• Simon Fraser leads the all-time series 29-17 since 1994. 
• The Wildcats are on a six-game win-streak over SFU.
• CWU has an 8-13 record up in Burnaby. 
• The Wildcats are 9-1 over the Red Leafs in the past 10 matchups. 

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will head back into the U.S. when they travel to Bellingham, Wash. to clash with rival Western Washington (8-6, 3-2 GNAC) on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. from inside Carver Gym.