CARSON, Calif. – The Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team used a gigantic first half that included stout defense and lights out shooting to take down the Point Loma Sea Lions in the first round of the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Tournament for the programs second-ever victory in the NCAA Tournament Friday afternoon. Sunny Huerta and Capri Sims paced the 'Cats with 16 points each with Sims tacking on the double-double adding 13 rebounds.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: #6 Central Washington (74), #3 Point Loma (53)
• Records: CWU (22-7), PLNU (25-6)
• Location: Torodome, Carson, Calif.

 
QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON:
 
"I'm very happy with how our team came out and executed from the jump and sustained that effort enough to beat a very good team in Point Loma. We received great contributions from everyone. Now, it's time to recover and get ready to go at it again tomorrow."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• A pair of free-throws by Sims and a jumper by Asher Cai opened the game and put the 'Cats up 4-0 quick.
• Following the exchange of a pair of buckets form the teams, a jumper from Sims sparked a 12-0 run as the 'Cats held Point Loma scoreless for the final 4:44 of the first quarter to send it to the second quarter with CWU leading 21-4.
• A layup by Sims to start the second was responded to by a three by Tavia Rowell and a layup from Hannah Golan of Point Loma to cut it to a 23-9 CWU lead.
• CWU mustered up 10 more points before the Sea Lions got back on the board at the 1:35 mark on a free-throw by Golan to make it 33-10 CWU.
• A 6-2 run over the final 1:35 by the crimson and black capped by back-to-back buckets from Cai and Huerta sent the teams to halftime with the 'Cats leading 39-12.
• Cai scored a quick bucket to start the third quarter, but Alli McDonald of PLNU responded with a three to make it 41-15 CWU.
• A 7-2 run by the 'Cats saw their lead balloon to over 30 for the first time on the day at 48-17 with 5:24 left in the third.
• A three by Cai sparked another 7-0 run for the 'Cats to make it 57-22 in favor of CWU with 2:36 left in the third.
• The teams exchanged baskets to end the third with CWU leading 62-31.
• A three by Emily Shaw started the fourth quarter, but the Sea Lions weren't going to go quietly, scoring the next seven points before a layup by Annalee Coronado made it 67-38 CWU with 8:15 left.
• A 10-1 run by Point Loma saw the 'Cats lead slashed to 20, 68-48 with 4:38 left.
• A jumper by Jordy DeMott concluded the Wildcat scoring on the day as they cruised to the 74-53 victory.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Sims had another double-double landing on 16 points and 13 rebounds to go with one assist and one steal.
• Huerta also tallied 16 points to pair with six rebounds and a team-high four assists.
• Coronado added 14 points off the bench and came one rebound shy of a double-double with nine as well as two assists.
• Cai tacked on 11 points to go with seven rebounds, three assists, and one block.
• Blodgett finished with six points, three rebounds, and one steal while Malia Smith added three points.
• Keira Marsh and Shaw also added three points while Marsh also had one rebound and one steal.
• DeMott had two points and four rebounds while Aliyah Finch had one rebound and one block.
• The 'Cats shot 43.9 percent from the floor (29-66), 36.8 percent from three (7-19), and 90 percent from the free-throw line (9-10).
• Point Loma finished the day shooting 36.1 percent from the floor (22-61), 22.2 percent from three (4-18), and 62.5 percent at the free-throw line (5-8).
• CWU dominated the boards, winning the rebound battle 47-28.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• The Wildcats are 2-1 over the Sea Lions since their first meeting in 2001.
• All three games have come in neutral site games with this meeting being the first in the NCAA Tournament.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• There will be a Battle of the Wildcats in the second round of the NCAA Tournament as CWU faces seventh-seeded Chico State (24-7) tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. from inside the Torodome.
• The Wildcats upset the second-seeded Cal Poly Pomona Broncos 57-52 in overtime to advance to face CWU.