LACEY, Wash. – The Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team suffered a first round defeat to the hosting St. Martin's Saints Thursday evening. GNAC Player of the Year Sunny Huerta led the way with 21 points for CWU. 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (52), St. Martin's (60)
• Records: CWU (21-7), SMU (17-11)
• Location: Marcus Pavilion, Lacey, Wash. 

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• The Saints started out with a quick four points until a pair of free-throws by Capri Sims put the 'Cats on the board, but two more baskets by SMU forced Coach Richardson to call a timeout with the Saints leading 8-2 with 7:22 left in the first.
• Out of the timeout a three by Malia Smith followed by an and-one from Sims tied things up at eight apiece. 
• SMU came right back a quick six points, making it 14-8 SMU with 3:13 left. 
• A layup by Huerta to tie the game was answered by a three from Keeli Jade Smith of SMU to send the teams into the second quarter with the Saints leading 20-17. 
• The two teams exchanged buckets to open the second quarter but a pair of jumpers by Cai and a jumper from Huerta gave CWU their first lead of the game, 27-22 with 4:09 left in the second. 
• The Saints came right back to tie things up before starting a back-and-forth affair as a three by Emily Shaw sent the Wildcats to the half with the 34-33 lead. 
• St. Martin's came out of halftime grabbing the first four points before a jumper by Huerta put the 'Cats on the board in the third, making it 37-36 SMU with 6:08 left. 
• Back-to-back buckets by Huerta and Sims gave CWU the three-point lead, but a bucket by the Saints with 28 seconds left made it a 40-39 crimson and black lead heading into the final 10 minutes. 
• A quick five points by SMU to start the fourth was answered with a layup by Huerta to make it 44-42 SMU with 6:18 left. 
• A pair of free-throws and a jumper by SMU started a back-and-forth game for the next couple of minutes with SMU leading 50-45 with 4:50 left. 
• Another layup by the Saints was answered with a layup from Annalee Coronado and a pair of free-throws from Huerta to make it a one possession game, 52-49 SMU with 1:44 left. 
• Another layup and made free-throws down the stretch broken up by a three from Cai sent the Saints to the second round by a 60-52 score. 

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Huerta led the game with 21 points, adding four rebounds and three assists. 
• Cai added 12 points to go with four rebounds and two assists. 
• Sims finished with nine points and 13 rebounds and had all three steals for CWU. 
• Smith tacked on five points, one rebound, and one assist while Shaw finished with three points. 
• Coronado contributed two points, five rebounds, and two assists. 
• Shelby Blodgett had three rebounds and one assist while Keira Marsh had one rebound. 
• The Wildcats finished the game shooting 31.6 percent from the floor, 22.7 percent from three, and a perfect 11-11 at the free-throw line. 
• St. Martin's shot 40 percent from the floor, 26.7 percent from three, and 75 percent at the free-throw line. 
• The Saints edged out the 'Cats in the rebound battle 36-35. 

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• The Wildcats now lead the Saints 42-36 since 1987. 
• CWU is 19-21 inside Marcus Pavilion against the Saints. 
• The crimson and black are 8-2 against SMU in the past 10 matchups. 

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will await their fate on Sunday to see if they've earned a top eight spot in the region to qualify for the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Tournament. The selection show will take place on NCAA.com at 7:30 p.m. PST.