ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team will prepare for their final homestand of the 2024-25 season this weekend when they welcome Western Oregon and Saint Martin's for another pair of crucial games. On Saturday the team will celebrate Shelby Blodgett, Sunny Huerta, and Malia Smith for Senior Day as they wrap up their final games inside Nicholson Arena.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Thursday, February 20
5:15 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Western Oregon
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Wash.
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Saturday, February 22
Senior Day
4:00 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Saint Martin's
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Wash.
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QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON
 
"It's vital that we come out ready to go this week for our final home games of the season. Each week we still have an opportunity to continue to chip off wins to help extend our post season aspirations, but also continue to grow ourselves so we are playing at our best in those opportunities. This is a big week to celebrate our seniors and make sure we can send them off the right way, the way that they deserve."
 
LAST WEEKEND
 
The Wildcats had a road split last weekend, first erasing a 19-point deficit to tie the game with three minutes remaining but couldn't ride the momentum in a 66-61 setback at 16th-ranked Montana State Billings. The 'Cats bounced back with double-doubles from Asher Cai and Capri Sims to defeat Seattle Pacific 75-64 last Saturday.
 
At MSUB, the 'Cats were led by Sunny Huerta who had 17 points. Capri Sims notched her third-straight double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds while Asher Cai added 12 points. CWU finished the game shooting 45.5 percent from the floor, 15 percent from three, and 80 percent at the free-throw line. The Yellowjackets shot 40.7 percent from the floor, 27.8 percent from three, and 68.4 percent at the free-throw line. MSUB won the rebound battle 37-30.
 
Huerta once again led the crimson and black at SPU, this time with 24 points. Sims added her fourth-straight double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds while Cai added double-double figures of 17 points and 14 rebounds. The Wildcats shot 40.7 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from three, and 78.8 percent at the free-throw line. SPU shot 35.1 percent from the floor, 19 percent from three, and 72.7 percent at the free-throw line. CWU won the rebound battle 46-38.
 
SCOUTING THE WOLVES
 
The Wolves are 8-14 overall and 4-10 in GNAC play. CWU defeated the Wolves in Monmouth by a 66-35 score back on January 25 and saw Huerta break the CWU scoring record in the process. Since the last time these two squads met WOU has gone 1-4 posting a 58-53 victory over Seattle Pacific at home but falling 83-68 at Simon Fraser, 82-61 at Western Washington, 76-60 vs. Montana State Billings, and 62-55 against St. Martin's at home last weekend.
 
WOU is averaging 61.2 points per game and giving up 71.5 points to their opponents per game. The Wolves are averaging 34.9 percent shooting from the floor, 30.7 percent from three, and 65.4 percent at the free-throw line while their opponents are averaging 38.7 percent from the floor, 32 percent from three, and 71.8 percent at the free-throw line. The Wolves are getting outrebounded 41.6 to their opponents 42.7 rebounds per game. WOU is averaging 11.8 assists per game and are giving up 16 turnovers per contest compared to the 12.9 they're forcing of their opponents with 5.2 coming as steals. The Wolves average 2.3 blocks per game.
 
Bella Pedrojetti has been the main source of offense for WOU as the only Wolf to average double-digits at 15.3 points per game. Natalie Brown is one of the best rebounders in the GNAC, averaging 8.1 per contest and also leads the Wolves with 18 blocks this season. Ciona Wells has the most assists for WOU with 89 on the season while Enid Vaifanua leads the way with 25 steals.
 
SCOUTING THE SAINTS
 
SMU is 14-8 on the season and 7-7 in GNAC play, currently in the final sixth spot of the GNAC Tournament if the season were to end today. CWU eked out a 77-72 victory over in Lacey back on January 23. Since then, the Saints have gone 4-2 posting a 79-58 victory over Northwest Nazarene, an 86-74 victory at Simon Fraser, a home 78-63 victory against Seattle Pacific, and a 62-55 victory at Western Oregon last weekend. They fell 79-56 at Western Washington and 48-43 at home to Montana State Billings.
 
The Saints average 65.5 points per game and give up 59.4 points per contest to their opponents. SMU averages 40.7 percent from the floor, 29.8 percent from three, and 76.5 percent at the free-throw line while opponents have averaged 38.5 percent from the floor, 31.4 percent from three, and 72.6 percent at the free-throw line. The Saints outrebound their opponents 36.3 rebounds per game to 32.5 their opponents grab. SMU dishes out 13.9 assists per game turning it over 18.1 times compared to the 18.6 times they force their opponents to turn it over with 9.9 coming as steals. The Saints average 4.2 blocks per game.
 
Kiana Rios and Jada Travis are neck-and-neck at 14.5 and 14.4 points per game, respectively. The duo also leads the Saints in rebounding with Rios leading the way at 6.2 per game and Travis not far behind at 6.0 rebounds per game. Travis leads SMU with 91 assists and 43 steals on the season while Sarah Lamet paves the way with 26 blocks.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Wildcats will wrap up the regular season portion of their schedule with a trip to Northwest Nazarene (14-10, 8-7 GNAC) on Saturday, March 1 with tip-off set for noon PST from Johnson Sports Center in Nampa, Idaho.