ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The 17th-ranked Central Washington University Women's Basketball (7-0, 1-0 GNAC) will take off to sunny Southern California for a three-game adventure where they will see the 19th-ranked Cal Poly Pomona Broncos (6-1, 2-0 CCAA), the Cal State LA Golden Eagles (4-1, 1-1 CCAA), and the Cal State San Marcos Cougars (4-2, 1-1 CCAA).
 
GAME INFORMATION:
 
Saturday, December 13
#17 Central Washington at #19 Cal Poly Pomona
2:00 p.m.
Kellogg Arena
Pomona, Calif.
WATCH ($ - FloCollege): HERE
LIVE STATS: HERE
TICKETS: HERE
 
Monday, December 15
#17 Central Washington at Cal State Los Angeles
Noon
University Gym
Los Angeles, Calif.
WATCH ($ - FloCollege): HERE
LIVE STATS: HERE
TICKETS: HERE
 
Tuesday, December 16
#17 Central Washington at Cal State San Marcos
Noon
The Sports Center
San Marcos, Calif.
WATCH ($ - FloCollege): HERE
LIVE STATS: HERE
TICKETS: HERE
 
QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON:
 
"We are excited for this challenge to head to California to play three very high-level opponents. Each team plays a different style and will challenge us in different ways, which will be very good for this team's overall growth and development. We will go after it one game at a time and give each opponent our best."
 
LAST MEETINGS:
 
The Broncos lead the Wildcats 2-1 in all-time meetings. Each team has won once in Pomona. Cal Poly Pomona won the last matchup on December 15, 2018 in Pomona by an 81-77 score. Alexis Pana paced CWU with 19 points while Kaelie Flores and Kassidy Malcolm weren't far behind with 18 and 15 points, respectfully. Rebecca Islas led Cal Poly Pomona with 21 points while four other Broncos finished in double-digits. The 'Cats finished the game shooting 45.7 percent from the floor, 31.8 percent from three, and 46.2 percent at the free-throw line. The Broncos shot 44.1 percent from the floor, 30.8 percent from three, and 56.7 percent at the free-throw line. The 'Cats outrebounded Cal Poly Pomona 47-38.
 
The Wildcats lead the all-time series against Cal State LA 6-2. CWU leads 2-1 in LA over the Golden Eagles. The two teams met last year on December 19 in LA where the Golden Eagles edged out the 'Cats by a 71-68 score. Sunny Huerta paced CWU with 28 points while Asher Cai added on 14. CSULA was led by Lily Buggs who finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and a steal while three other Golden Eagles had double-digits. The 'Cats finished the game shooting 41.8 percent from the floor, 22.7 percent from three, and 63 percent at the free-throw line while Cal State LA finished the game shooting 44.6 percent from the floor, 35 percent from three, and 73.7 percent from the charity stripe. The 'Cats edged the Golden Eagles in the rebounding category 32-31.
 
The Cougars have won the only clash between the two teams in each program's history. Cal State San Marcos took the 86-74 victory in the first round of the NCAA Division II Tournament back on March 10, 2023 in Carson, Calif. Samantha Bowman and Huerta combined for 25 and 23 points, respectfully with Bowman registering a double-double adding 16 rebounds as well as four assists, three blocks, and a steal. Charity Gallegos led CSUSM with 27 points and seven rebounds to go with three steals. Dynnah Buckner and Mina Tameilau added 16 and 15 points. The 'Cats finished the game shooting 42.3 percent from the floor, 43.8 percent from three, and a perfect 7-7 at the free-throw line. The Cougars shot 53.8 percent from the floor, 35.7 percent from three, and a perfect 11-11 at the free-throw line. CWU won the rebound battle 37-32.
 
SCOUTING THE BRONCOS:
 
The Broncos are 6-1 on the season including a 2-0 CCAA record. They opened the season with a split at the CCAA/PacWest Challenge, first defeating Point Loma 71-62 before falling to Azusa Pacific 54-53. They bounced back to rattle off three-straight nonconference victories: 63-49 against Southern Oregon, 66-57 against Biola, and 61-59 at Concordia Irvine. In their CCAA-opening weekend they defeated Cal State LA 68-49 before downing defending national runners-up Cal State Dominguez Hills 59-37, both at home.
 
CPP averages 63 points per game while only giving up 52.4 points per game to their opponents. They average 39 percent from the floor, 26.1 percent from three, and 73.8 percent at the free-throw line. Their opponents are averaging 31.6 percent from the floor, 28.8 percent from three, and 66.3 percent at the free-throw line. Pomona is dominant on the boards, averaging 43.3 rebounds per game while only giving 35.3 to their opponents. They only average 7.1 assists per game while opponents average nine assists per contest. CPP turns the ball over 18 times per contest while they forced 16.6 turnovers of their opponents. Of those 16.6 turnovers they force, eight are steals while opponents snatch 7.9 steals per contest. The Broncos average 4.4 blocks per game while their opponents muster 2.1 blocks per game.
 
Sydney Nelson leads the Broncos with 19.4 points per game. Mydrea Moore leads CPP with 7.1 rebounds per game and has 12 blocks on the season to go with seven points per game. Nelson is tied with Jeanette Fine with 10 steals each with Fine second on the team with 9.8 points per game. Brielle Minor has dished out the most assists with 15 this season and adds 8.4 points per contest.
 
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES:
 
LA is 4-1 on the season and 1-1 in CCAA play. They began their season at the CCAA/GNAC Challenge where they defeated hosting Seattle Pacific 75-63 before taking down Western Washington 79-78. They added a 73-61 road victory over Azusa Pacific before suffering their first defeat, a 68-49 setback at Cal Poly Pomona to begin CCAA play. They split their conference-opening weekend with a 68-60 victory at Cal State San Bernardino.
 
LA currently averages 68.8 points per game while giving up 66 per game to their opponents. The Golden Eagles are shooting 36.6 percent from the floor, 35.8 percent from three, and 75.6 percent at the free-throw line. Opponents are averaging 36 percent from the floor, 26.4 percent from three, and 75.3 percent at the charity stripe this season. Cal State LA is solid around the boards, grabbing 42.8 rebounds per contest, however, opponents snatch 44 rebounds per game. The Golden Eagles contribute 13.8 assists per game compared to the 9.6 opponents hand out. The Golden Eagles average 14.8 turnovers per game and force 14.4 turnovers from their opponents. Of those 14.4 turnovers, 8.8 come as steals for the Golden Eagles while opponents steal the ball 7.4 times per game. LA blocks the ball five times per game while opponents are far behind at 4.8 blocks per game.
 
Sofia Fidelus and Nevaeh Asiasi lead the charge for LA at 16.6 and 15 points per game, respectfully. They also serve as the leading rebounders with Asiasi earning 9.8 rebounds per game and Fidelus earning seven rebounds per game. Both players lead in the assist category as well with Fidelus having 19 and Asiasi not far behind with 18 on the season. Once again they both lead the steal category with Asiasi earning 12 steals and Fidelus having 10 this season. Amaya Fuentes and Mary Cotton lead LA with six blocks apiece.
 
SCOUTING THE COUGARS:
 
Cal State San Marcos is 4-2 on the season including a 1-1 CCAA record. They opened the season with a home CCAA/PacWest Challenge sweep, defeating Azusa Pacific 58-52 followed by a 62-50 victory over Point Loma. They suffered their first defeat in the PLNU Thanksgiving Classic thanks to Northwest Nazarene by a 64-60 score. They bounced back for a 68-66 victory over Western Oregon. They split their CCAA-opening weekend, first defeating Cal State Monterey Bya 61-52 at home, but fell to the Otters on the road 63-52 three days later.
 
The Cougars average 60.2 points per game and give up 57.8 points to their opponents. Currently they average 37.5 percent from the floor, 32 percent from three, and 69.5 percent at the free-throw line. Opponents average 32.1 percent from the floor, 25.9 percent from three, and 72.3 percent at the free-throw line. CSUSM averages 41.8 rebounds per contest while allowing 38.2 rebounds to their opponents. The Cougars average 10 assists per game while their opponents average 8.2. San Marcos commits 19 turnovers per game while forcing 15.7 turnovers on their opponents. Of those 15.7 turnovers, 8.2 come as steals for the Cougars, but of the 19 Cougar turnovers, 9.3 come as steals for opponents. CSUSM averages 3.3 blocks per game while opponents average 2.8 blocks per game.
 
The Cougars have a three-headed monster leading their offense in Tatum Tamashiro who averages 10.7 points per game, and Kaity Haan and Sophie Morales who each average 10.5 points per game. Sydney Hani leads the rebounding efforts at 8.7 per game with Haan not far behind at eight per game. Morales is far and away the assist leader with 28 this season and is tied with Haan for the most steals with both earning 11 this season. Haan also leads the Cougars with 12 blocks on the year.
 
UP NEXT:
 
The Wildcats will face one more opponent before going on their holiday break when they welcome the Walla Walla Wolves (2-5, 0-2 CCC) for their home-opener on Saturday, December 20 at 6:00 p.m. and for the annual Dollar Day.