CARSON, Calif. – The Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team concluded their 2024-25 season with their first ever appearance in the NCAA Division II Sweet 16. Sunny Huerta concluded her collegiate career with a 20-point performance to lead CWU.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: #6 Central Washington (47), #1 Cal State Dominguez Hills (70)
• Records: CWU (23-8), CSUDH (34-1)
• Location: Torodome, Carson, Calif. 

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• The Toros came out to a quick 11-0 lead thanks to stout defense to stifle the 'Cats before Aliyah Finch got the 'Cats on the board with a jumper to make it 11-2 Toros.
• The two teams exchanged a pair of baskets, but the Toros finished the first quarter leading 20-8. 
• Dominguez Hills picked up where they left off before a three from Annalee Coronado broke the streak to pull the 'Cats within 10, 21-11 Toros.
• A 9-0 run by CSUDH saw the Toros take the 30-11 lead before a pair of free-throws by Huerta cut into the CWU deficit. 
• Over the remainder of the first half the Toros went 16-7 to take the 46-20 halftime lead. 
• Dominguez Hills kept on going out of halftime with a quick pair of layups before a pair of free-throws by Huerta broke the Toros streak and make it 50-22 CSUDH. 
• A jumper and the and one followed by a layup from Capri Sims sent the teams to the final quarter with Dominguez Hills commanding 60-30. 
• Huerta and Malia Smith opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back-to-back threes to cut the deficit to 21, 60-39 DH with 7:42 remaining.
• A quick 10-0 run by Dominguez made it a 70-39 game before four free-throws by Huerta and a pair of free-throws by Shelby Blodgett made it a 70-47 game as the Toros would secure the victory to the elite eight. 

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Huerta led CWU with 20 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals in her final game of her record-setting career. 
• Asher Cai had six points and four rebounds while Malia Smith also tallied six points and one rebound.
• Coronado had six points, one rebound, four assists, and two steals off the bench while Sims tallied five points and seven rebounds.
• Blodgett had two points, two rebounds, and two steals, while Finch tacked on two points.
• Keira Marsh had three rebounds and one steal while Emily Shaw added an assist and her first career block while Jordy DeMott had one rebound. 
• The 'Cats finished the day shooting 29.3 percent (12-41), 47.1 percent from three (8-17), and 83.3 percent (15-18) from the free-throw line. 
• The Toros shot 45 percent (27-60) from the floor, 40 percent (6-15) from three, and 83.3 percent (10-12) from the free-throw line.
• Dominguez Hills won the rebound battle 35-29. 

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• CWU is 0-4 against Dominguez Hills all-time. 
• The 'Cats are 0-3 inside the Torodome against the Toros. 
• This was the first meeting between the two teams in the NCAA Division II Playoffs. 

 
NEXT SEASON:
 

• The crimson and black will be back next season with an abundance of talent returning to lead the team to hopefully another sweet 16 appearance and beyond.