SEATTLE – The 14th-ranked Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team earned a big road victory over the Seattle Pacific Falcons Thursday evening. 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (88), Seattle Pacific (56)
• Records: CWU (15-1, 6-0 GNAC), SPU (4-11, 1-5 GNAC)
• Location: Royal Brougham Pavilion (Seattle, Wash.)

 
QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON:
 
"I'm happy with our consistency over the four quarters. Our team did a great job tonight defending SPU from three and in transition which were keys for us. We did a great job of sharing the ball with 18 assists. I'm proud of the team. We'll enjoy this but then tomorrow it's onto MSUB."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• A pair of free-throws by Grace Leasure got the scoring started as SPU took the 2-0 lead. 
• A free-throw by Capri Sims and an and-one by Asher Cai saw the 'Cats take the 4-2 lead with 8:20 left in the first. 
• A 9-4 run by CWU saw their lead increase to seven at 13-6 with 5:24 left in the first. 
• Three free-throws by Cai and a jumper from Sims gave the crimson and black their first double-digit lead at 18-8 with 3:52 left in the quarter. 
• A pair of threes by the Falcons cut the deficit down to six but a layup by Annalee Coronado ended the first quarter as CWU took the 24-16 after the first 10 minutes. 
• A huge 10-1 run by CWU to begin the second quarter made it a 34-17 'Cats lead with 6:55 left in the quarter. 
• The two teams exchanged buckets but a couple of minutes later a three by Sierra Eddie, a jumper by Coronado, and a layup by Cai gave the 'Cats their first 20 point lead at 43-22 with 2:02 left in the quarter. 
• A jumper by Grace Turley of SPU concluded the first half with the 'Cats on top 46-27. 
• A quick 6-2 run by the Falcons out of the halftime break saw SPU cut it to a 48-33 CWU lead with 7:15 left in the third. 
• A three by Eddie sparked a 12-2 run to put the CWU lead back over 20, 60-35 with 4:10 left in the quarter. 
• The two teams exchanged a pair of baskets but a free-throw by Lylah Spring, and a pair of layups by Sims and Emily Shaw helped see the 'Cats head into the final 10 minutes with the 69-41 lead. 
• A quick 5-0 run by the Falcons to begin the fourth was responded to by eight-straight points from the 'Cats to make it a 77-46 lead with 5:09 left in the game.
• A 6-0 run by SPU cut the crimson and black lead down to 77-52 with 4:08 left, however the 'Cats responded with five-straight points a couple of minutes later to make it an 84-54 game with 2:18 left. 
• Back-to-back layups by Spring and Nicole Wertenberger ended the game as the 'Cats earned the 88-56 victory. 

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Cai had a double-double performance of 24 points and 13 rebounds while adding two assists and four steals. 
• Sims added a double-double performance of her own with 16 points, and 10 rebounds to go with two assists and a steal. 
• Coronado tacked on 13 points, one rebound, three blocks, and a steal off the bench. 
• Shaw contributed 11 points, one rebound, and one assist. 
• Eddie finished with nine points one rebound, and six assists while Fiona Snashall and Aliyah Finch both added four points with Snashall adding seven rebounds, one assist, and one steal and Finch adding two rebounds and one assist.
• Spring finished with three points and three rebounds while Kayla Thornton added two points, tow rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal. 
• Wertenberger finished with two points, two rebounds, one assist, and one block while Rylee Leishman grabbed one rebound and dished out two assists. 
• The 'Cats shot 47.9 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from three, and 64.3 percent at the free-throw line. 
• The Falcons were led by Leasure with 17 points, four rebounds, one assist, one block, and six steals while Layne Kearns added 10 points, three rebounds, two assists, one block, and three steals. 
• SPU shot 35 percent from the floor, 18.2 percent from three, and 71.4 percent at the free-throw line. 
• The 'Cats dominated the boards by a 50-26 margin including 20 offensive rebounds. 

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• SPU leads the all-time series 45-23. 
• The 'Cats are on a three-game win-streak. 
• CWU is 6-27 inside Royal Brougham Pavilion.
• SPU leads in GNAC clashes by a 39-22 margin. 

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The 'Cats will head to Montana State Billings (10-9, 2-4 GNAC) for a Saturday, January 17 showdown against the Yellowjackets at 1:00 p.m. PST from inside Alterowitz Gym.