BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team concluded their time at the Lynda Goodrich Classic with a 89-82 victory over the Mary Marauders.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

·      Final: Central Washington (89), Mary (82)

·      Records: CWU (6-0), UMARY (7-2)

·      Location: Carver Gym (Bellingham, Wash.)

QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON:


"We're very happy to get the win and road sweep. Mary is a very good team who is very well coached. We didn't have much of an answer for Kinnebrew who is a very high level scoring guard at this level but our team stayed course and our shooting ability from behind the three finally came through for us today. Asher was elite today and this weekend and Fiona and Capri also stepped up big for us, but we had great contributions all around. It was fun to see."


HOW IT HAPPENED:

·      It began as a back-and-forth affair following Kayla Thornton's game-opening bucket.

·      A layup by Asher Cai followed by a three from Fiona Snashall made it an 11-6 CWU lead.

·      The Marauders responded with a quick 7-0 run to take the 15-11 lead with 3:32 left in the first.

·      UMary ballooned their lead to six, 19-13 with2:26 left in the first but free-throws down the stretch by both teams saw the Marauders take the 23-19 lead at the end of the first.

·      Mary began second with back-to-back buckets to force the 'Cats to call a timeout with the Marauders leading 27-19 with 8:16 left.

·      The teams continued to exchange buckets out of the timeout with Mary not letting the 'Cats chip away.

·      Following the media timeout the crimson and black went on an 8-2 run to make it 38-36 in favor of UMary with 1:24 left in the second.

·      Each team exchanged threes to end the second quarter with Mary on top 41-39.

·      A quick four points by the Marauders to begin the third saw them increase their lead to 45-39, but back-to-back treys by Snashall cut it back to a one possession game with Mary on top 47-45 with 6:58 left in the third.

·      A layup by Cai followed by a three from Rylee Leishman tied things up at 50 apiece and after a pair of free-throws by the Marauders saw the 'Cats take a lead thanks to a layup from Capri Sims and another three from Leishman to make it 56-52 CWU with 2:24 left in the third.

·      A pair of free-throws by Cai was answered with a layup by Bergen Kinnebrew to end the third with the crimson and black on top 57-56.

·      Both teams continued to exchange baskets as the 'Cats couldn't get away from the Marauders without a response.

·      A three by Sierra Eddie was responded with back-to-back buckets from Mary to tie things up at 67 apiece with 6:20 left.

·      An and-one by Sims gave the 'Cats a three-point lead but a pair of free-throws by Kinnebrew a couple of minutes later tied things up again at 72 with 4:03 left.

·      Another three by Snashall and a bucket from Cai was responded to with a three by Anna Lenzen prompting UMary to take a timeout with CWU on top 77-75 with2:53 left.

·      A layup by Thornton and a free-throw by Cai was answered with a three from Kinnebrew to make it 80-78 CWU with 1:46 left.

·      Made free-throws by the 'Cats down the stretch ensured the 89-82 victory for CWU.

STATS FROM THE GAME:

·      Cai led the 'Cats with 37 points, adding five rebounds, a team-high eight assists, and two steals.

·      Snashall added 18 points, contributing six rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal.

·      Sims finished with a double-double with 15 points, 13 rebounds, and added five assists.

·      Leishman had a career-high eight points, adding one rebound, three assists, and three steals.

·      Thornton finished with six points, one rebound, and two assists.

·      Eddie added three points, one rebound, and one steal while Nicole Wertenberger contributed two points, one rebound, and one assist.

·      Aliyah Finch added a rebound and a block.

·      CWU finished the game shooting 55.8 percent from the floor, 55 percent from three, and 71.4 percent from the free-throw line.

·      Mary was led by Kinnebrew with 41 points, eight rebounds, three assists, one block, and three steals. Lenzen added 16 points and seven rebounds.

·      The Marauders finished the game shooting 45.8 percent from the floor, 31.3 percent from three, and 92 percent at the free-throw line.

·      CWU won the rebound battle 32-27.

SERIES HISTORY:

·      This was the first meeting between CWU and UMary.

UP NEXT:

·      The 'Cats will turn their attention to their GNAC-opening game at Northwest Nazarene (4-2) next Saturday at noon PST from inside the Johnson Sports Center in Nampa, Idaho.