ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team will be back in Nicholson Arena this weekend after spending the past two weeks on the road full of tough battles. CWU welcomes arch-rival Western Washington on Thursday for Military Appreciation Day sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps followed by a visit from our neighbors north of the border in Simon Fraser on Saturday.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Thursday, February 6
Military Appreciation Day
5:15 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Western Washington
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Wash.
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Saturday, February 8
4:00 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Simon Fraser
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Wash.
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QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON
 
"This is another big week for our team. We need to continue to take steps forward in our development and execution. WWU and SFU are two highly respected opponents, and we know that they will come in ready to go. We need to prepare ourselves at the highest level in order to compete and execute for the full 40 minutes each night."
 
LAST WEEKEND
 
The Wildcats traveled up to Alaska and earned a split over the weekend. CWU couldn't come over an early deficit against Alaska Anchorage falling 65-56. The crimson and black rebounded for an 81-70 victory at Alaska Fairbanks.
 
At UAA, the 'Cats were led by Asher Cai who had 22 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal. Sunny Huerta added 17 points, three rebounds, and three assists while Capri Sims added 14 points, and led the 'Cats with eight rebounds, three assists, and one block. CWU shot 40.9 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from three, and 73.9 percent from the free-throw line. UAA finished the day shooting 43.3 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from three, and 72.7 percent at the free-throw line. The Seawolves won the rebound battle 33-28.
 
At UAF, Huerta finished as the leading scorer with 21 points, adding eight rebounds and one assist. Cai earned her second double-double of the season finishing with 15 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Malia Smith and Annalee Coronado each had 11 points with Smith adding two rebounds and one block and Coronado adding three rebounds, two assists, and one steal. The 'Cats shot 52.8 percent from the floor, 39.1 percent from three, and 80 percent at the charity stripe while the Nanooks shot 36.7 percent from the floor, 32 percent from three, and 78.3 percent at the free-throw line. CWU won the rebound battle 36-26.
 
SCOUTING THE VIKINGS
 
The last time these two squads met was back on January 11 when WWU used a 27-point fourth quarter to erase a double-digit deficit and earn Head Coach Carmen Dolfo her 700th victory by a 67-65 score. Cai and Sims were the only 'Cats in double figures with 24 and 14 points, respectively with both also adding nine rebounds. Huerta had seven assists while Sims led the way with two block and Cai led CWU with three steals. The Vikings had three players in double figures led by Olivia Wikstrom with 20 points and Alyson Deaver with 19 points.
 
Since the two squads met last, the Vikings have been on a tear going 4-1 posting victories at Alaska Fairbanks (67-37) and Simon Fraser (78-69) as well as home victories over Saint Martin's (79-56) and Western Oregon (82-61) last weekend. Their only setback came at Alaska Anchorage by a 67-59 score.
 
The Vikings are outscoring their opponents 67 points to 60.1 points per game. They're shooting 41.7 percent from the floor, 33.7 percent from three, and 75.2 percent at the free-throw line while their opponents are shooting 37.2 percent from the floor, 30.9 percent from three, and 74.7 percent at the free-throw line. WWU is outrebounding their opponents 36.2 to 33.4 rebounds per game. The Vikings are averaging 12.9 assists per game, 7.8 steals per game, and 4.2 blocks per game. WWU is turning over the ball 15.2 times per contest but is forcing their opponents into 16.2 turnovers per game.
 
Olivia Wikstrom (14.7), Alyson Deaver (14), Demi Dykstra (12.1), Mason Oberg (10.6), and Libby Stump (10) are all averaging double-digits per contest. Wikstrom leads WWU in rebounds, averaging 7.5 per contest as well as steals with 34 on the season. Oberg has the most assists for the Vikings with 63 on the season while Deaver has accumulated the most blocks at 29.
 
SCOUTING THE RED LEAFS
 
The last time CWU and SFU crossed paths, the Wildcats came away with the 82-70 victory north of the border. The Wildcats had four players in double-digits, led by Cai with 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Smith tied a CWU single-game record for three-point percentage going 6-6 on the day for a total of 18 points. Huerta and Sims weren't far behind at 17 and 13 points, respectively. Sophia Wisotzki had a day offensively earning 27 points for the Red Leafs.
 
Since their last meeting, the Red Leafs have had some struggles, going 2-4 suffering losses to Northwest Nazarene (81-55), at Alaska Anchorage (78-63), and at home to Western Washington (78-69), and Saint Martin's (86-74). They earned a road victory at Alaska Fairbanks by a 99-80 score and a home victory over Western Oregon by an 83-68 score.
 
Simon Fraser is outscoring their opponents 72.7 to 70.2 points per game. They're shooting 37.7 percent from the floor, 31.1 percent from three, and 78.2 percent from the free-throw line. The Red Leaf opponents are averaging 44.3 percent from the floor, 31.7 percent from three, and 71.8 percent at the free-throw line. SFU is getting outrebounded 39.7 to 36.5 rebounds per game. SFU is averaging 14.2 assists, 10.9 steals, and 4.4 blocks per game. The Red Leafs are averaging 15.6 turnovers per game but are forcing their opponents into 21.4 turnovers each contest.
 
Wisotzki has maintained her status as one of the elite scorers in NCAA Division II as she is averaging 23.8 points per game. Myrlaine Shelvey is the only other Red Leaf averaging double-figures at 11.8 points per game. Rachel Loukes is the leader in the rebounding category with 5.2 per game while Makenna Gardner has the most assists with 68 this season. Sophie Bergeron has the most steals with 44 while Arman Dulai has 18 blocks to lead the Leafs.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Wildcats will face another pair of tough road tests as they travel to the 18th-ranked Montana State Billings Yellowjackets (19-4, 8-2 GNAC) on Thursday, February 13 at 4:15 p.m. PST. They wrap up their road trip at Seattle Pacific (6-17, 0-10 GNAC) on Saturday, February 15 at 4:15 p.m.