ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team defeated the Western Oregon Wolves Thursday evening in front of an energetic crowd. Sunny Huerta paved the way for the 'Cats with 20 points.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (64), Western Oregon (56)
• Records: CWU (19-6, 12-4 GNAC), WOU (8-15, 4-11 GNAC)
• Location: Nicholson Arena, Ellensburg, Wash.

 
QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON:
 
"I'm pleased to get the win, but our performance in the fourth was not reflective of the team we want to be or need to be at this time of the year. We need to finish out games and not get outplayed down the stretch."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• It took Capri Sims only 13 seconds to put the 'Cats on the board, but WOU responded 20 seconds later with a three from Bella Pedrojetti to make it 3-2 WOU.
• A three by Huerta put CWU back on top, but sparked a back-and-forth battle until back-to-back buckets by the Wolves sent the teams to the second quarter with WOU up 16-14.
• Shelby Blodgett drilled a three and was backed up with another layup from Sims as the 'Cats shut out WOU for almost the first full five minutes of the second to take the 19-16 lead.
• The teams continued to exchange buckets for the rest of the quarter capped by a jumper from Huerta sending the teams to the half with CWU up 28-23.
• Huerta started off a 17-2 run by the 'Cats over the first six and a half minutes of the third.
• A free-throw by De'Andrea Woods-Singleton broke up the CWU run, but a jumper by Huerta made it a 47-26 in favor of CWU with 3:36 left in the third.
• The Wolves earned the final buckets of the third to cut into the Wildcat lead to make it 47-30 heading into the final 10 minutes.
• Western Oregon wasn't going to go quietly, opening the fourth quarter with a 13-2 run to make it 49-43 in favor of CWU with 6:15 left.
• The two teams exchanged a pair of free-throws but a three by Emily Shaw and a layup by Annalee Coronado put the 'Cats back up by double-digits, 56-45 with 4:52 left.
• A 9-2 run by the Wolves made it a 58-54 CWU lead with 2:06 left.
• Drained free-throws by Coronado and Asher Cai sealed the deal as the 'Cats earned the victory 64-56.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Huerta led the way with 20 points and added six rebounds and four assists.
• Sims had another outstanding evening dropping 16 points while adding eight rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
• Coronado added 12 points, six rebounds, four assists, and one block off the bench.
• Asher Cai finished with eight points, two assists, and one steal while leading CWU with 13 rebounds.
• Blodgett had three points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal while Shaw tallied three points.
• Aliyah Finch had two points and three rebounds while Malia Smith added one rebound and two assists.
• Keira Marsh added four rebounds and one assist.
• CWU finished the game shooting 36.5 percent from the floor, 23.1 percent from three, and 92.3 percent at the free-throw line.
• The Wolves finished the game shooting 36.5 percent from the floor, 20 percent from three, and 77.8 percent at the free-throw line.
• The crimson and black won the rebound battle 48-30.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• The Wildcats lead the all-time series 37-14 since 1999.
• The Wildcats are 21-4 inside Nicholson Arena.
• In the last 10 matchups the Wildcats are 8-2, currently riding a three-game win-streak.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats are back in action on Saturday for their final home game of the 2024-25 season as they take on the St. Martin's Saints (14-9, 7-8 GNAC) at 4:00 p.m. from inside Nicholson Arena.
• Saturday's game will honor the three seniors: Shelby Blodgett, Sunny Huerta, and Malia Smith prior to tip-off.