NAMPA, Idaho – The Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team concluded the regular season with a thrilling victory over Northwest Nazarene on the road Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats were led by Asher Cai who had 24 points. 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (69), Northwest Nazarene (67)
• Records: CWU (21-6, 14-4 GNAC), NNU (16-11, 10-8 GNAC)
• Location: Johnson Sports Center, Nampa, Idaho

 
QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON:
 
"I'm so happy for this group to get this win. That game was a battle, and NNU went on a tremendous run and outplayed us at the end of the third and the start of the fourth. I was proud of our team's fight, response, and composure through some adversity down five in the fourth, to come back and take the lead. We hit some big shots and executed down the stretch. I'm so proud of this team."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• Madeline Gebers earned the first points of the game, putting NNU up 2-0, but a 14-2 run by the 'Cats saw them lead 14-4 with 5:24 left in the first. 
• The Nighthawks made a 9-0 run of their own, but back-to-back trey's by Cai followed by a pair of free-throws by NNU sent the teams to the second quarter with the 'Cats leading 20-15.
• The two teams exchanged buckets to start the second but the and-one and a pair of free-throws by Capri Sims made it a 25-17 CWU lead with 7:03 left in the second. 
• A pair of free-throws by Shawnacee Davis of NNU cut it to a two point lead for CWU, but a free-throw by Shelby Blodgett and a three before the buzzer by Emily Shaw made it a 33-27 crimson and black lead at the half. 
• Back-to-back-to-back three's by Blodgett, Malia Smith, and Cai started the third quarter for the 'Cats and made it a 42-30 CWU lead with 5:49 left in the third. 
• Another 9-0 run by the 'Hawks made it a one possession game once again as CWU led 42-39 with 2:24 remaining in the quarter.
• A 5-0 run by NNU tied things up to end the third as the teams headed to the final 10 minutes of the game knotted up at 44 apiece. 
• The Nighthawks continued to ride that momentum earning the first five points of the fourth to force Coach Richardson to call a timeout with NNU leading 49-44 with 9:25 left. 
• The and-one and the layup by Cai after the timeout tied things back up, this time at 49 apiece. 
• The teams continued to exchange buckets for the next few minutes until a three by Smith followed by a pair of free-throws by Annalee Coronado put the 'Cats up five, 60-55 with 3:41 left. 
• Five quick points by NNU tied things up at 62 apiece with 2:43 remaining. 
• Sims earned a layup at the 2:23 mark to give the 'Cats the 64-62 lead. 
• NNU answered with a three by Danika Starr with 15 seconds left forcing CWU to call a timeout. 
• Cai drained another and-one opportunity to put CWU back up, 67-65 with 11 seconds left forcing NNU to call a timeout. 
• The Nighthawks drilled a pair of free-throws to tie things up again with four seconds left which was followed by the 'Cats calling a timeout.
• On the inbound, Sunny Huerta found Blodgett on the baseline who put it up and in with 0.6 seconds left to secure the 69-67 victory for the crimson and black. 

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Cai led the way in the game with 24 points while adding six rebounds, four assists, and one block. 
• Blodgett added 12 points, four rebounds, one assist, and two steals. 
• Sims notched another double-double with 11 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and one steal. 
• Smith tacked on nine points to go with two rebounds and three assists. 
• Huerta added six points, five rebounds, and led CWU with six assists. 
• Coronado contributed four points to go with seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals. 
• Shaw added three points while Aliyah Finch added three rebounds, one block, and one steal and Rylee Leishman grabbed one rebound. 
• CWU finished the game shooting 50 percent from the floor, 43.5 percent from three, and 72.2 percent at the free-throw line. 
• The Nighthawks shot 36.2 percent from the floor, 31.3 percent from three, and 92.3 percent at the free-throw line. 
• The Wildcats owned the boards outrebounding NNU by a 43-27 margin. 

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• NNU leads the series 35-19 since 1993. 
• The 'Cats are on a three-game win-streak over NNU.
• NNU is 20-7 down in Nampa over CWU. 

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will turn their attention to the GNAC Tournament. 
• The GNAC Tournament will be hosted by St. Martin's University in Lacey, Wash. next Thursday, March 6 through Saturday, March 8 and the winner of the tournament will earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. 
• CWU is slotted as the third seed and will face the hosting 6th-Seeded Saints of SMU (16-10, 9-9 GNAC) at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 6.