ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The 11th-ranked Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team (16-1, 7-0 GNAC) will look forward to staying home this weekend as they welcome the Saint Martin's Saints (10-6, 6-1 GNAC) on Thursday before seeing the Western Oregon Wolves (9-6, 4-3 GNAC) on Saturday.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 
Thursday, January 22
#11 Central Washington vs. Saint Martin's
5:15 p.m.
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Wash.
WATCH: HERE
LIVE STATS: HERE
TICKETS: HERE
 
Saturday, January 24
#11 Central Washington vs. Western Oregon
5:00 p.m.
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Wash.
WATCH: HERE
LIVE STATS: HERE
TICKETS: HERE
 
QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON:
 
"We are excited to be home for two more conference games versus SMU and WOU which are two very good teams. Our team has been doing a great job trusting our process of growth and preparation and we will continue to keep our focus there as we prep this week. We look forward to the opportunity to step back on the floor in Nicholson."
 
LAST WEEKEND:
 
The Wildcats earned a historic sweep last weekend on the road.
 
CWU first defeated the Seattle Pacific Falcons by an 88-56 score. Asher Cai led the game with 24 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, and four steals. Capri Sims also notched a double-double performance of 16 points and 10 rebounds to go with two assists and a steal. Annalee Coronado and Emily Shaw also posted double-digits for the 'Cats at 13 and 11 points, respectfully with Coronado adding a rebound, three blocks, and a steal and Shaw tacking on a rebound and an assist. The 'Cats shot 47.9 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from three, and 64.3 percent from the free-throw line. SPU saw Grace Leasure lead the charge with 17 points, four rebounds, an assist, a block, and six steals while Layne Kearns also finished in double digits with 10 points, three rebounds, two assists, a block, and three steals. The Falcons shot 35 percent from the floor, 18.2 percent from three, and 71.4 percent at the free-throw line. The 'Cats won the battle of the boards by a 50-26 margin.
 
The Wildcats completed the weekend sweep with a 91-57 victory at Montana State Billings. Cai once again led the team with 24 points, three rebounds, eight assists, and a steal and in the process breaking the GNAC record for the most career three-pointers made. Sims had another stellar performance with 20 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Fiona Snashall added a double-double performance of 17 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, a block, and two steals. The 'Cats shot 58.9 percent from the floor, 37.5 percent from three, and 94.1 percent at the free-throw line. The Yellowjackets were paced by Cassie Chesnut who had 17 points, six rebounds, and a steal while Tailey Harris had 13 points, two rebounds, and four assists. MSUB shot 33.3 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from three, and 66.7 percent at the charity stripe. The 'Cats won the rebound battle by a 39-25 margin.
 
SCOUTING THE SAINTS:
 
Saint Martin's is 10-6 on the season but has gotten off to an impressive 6-1 GNAC record. They began their season with a 1-2 record at the CSC DII Canadian Tip-Off Classic, defeating Minot State but falling to Parkside and Colorado Mesa. They then traveled to Hawaii where they fell to the University of Hawaii in an exhibition in overtime before sweeping Chaminade and Hawaii Pacific. In their home-opening games they fell to Point Loma before defeating Evergreen State. In their GNAC-opening games they swept the Alaska schools at home. Over the holiday break they suffered a pair of road losses, first at Chico State, then at Cal Poly Humboldt. They've gone 4-1 since the break, defeating Simon Fraser on the road by a 71-53 margin but then fell at Western Washington by a 77-60 score. They've since rattled off three-straight victories, first against Seattle Pacific at home by an 83-43 score, then against Montana State Billings at home by a 63-57 score. Last Saturday they defeated Western Oregon on the road by a 49-39 score.
 
The Saints currently average 62.9 points per game while giving up 54.9 points per game to their opponents. SMU is shooting 36.4 percent from the floor, 30.5 percent from three, and 74.5 percent at the free-throw line. The Saints are allowing their opponents to shoot 39.1 percent from the floor, 26.7 percent from three, and 60.9 percent at the charity stripe. Opponents slightly outrebound SMU by a 35.6 to 35.3 margin. The Saints dish out 14.2 assists per game while opponents contribute 10.7 assists per game. Saint Martin's is one of the better ball-handling teams, only committing 13.5 turnovers per game compared to the 19.3 they force their opponents to commit. Of those 19.3 turnovers, 9.6 come as steals for the Saints while opponents muster 6.8 steals from SMU. The Saints average 2.1 blocks per contest compared to the 4.3 their opponent's average.
 
The Saints have four players averaging in double-figures. Kiana Rios leads the way with 12.8 points per game with Jada Travis not far behind at 12.3 points per game. Avery Oaster and Laiken Hill average 11.4 and 10.3 points per game, respectfully. Oaster and Travis lead the rebounding for the Saints at 6.6 and 6.1 rebounds per game. Travis is the leader for SMU with 49 assists and 30 steals while Oaster leads the way with 14 blocks.
 
SCOUTING THE WOLVES:
 
Western Oregon is 9-6 on the season with a 4-3 GNAC record. They first fell to Corban at home before rattling off three-straight victories, first at Walla Walla, then at Willamette before defeating Evergreen State. They traveled to Southern California where they suffered a weekend sweep at the Point Loma Thanksgiving Classic, first against the hosting Sea Lions before falling to Cal State San Marcos. They swept the Alaska schools at home in their GNAC-opening weekend before heading into the holiday break, first defeating Warner Pacific at home before earning a key victory at Cal Poly Humboldt. Coming out of the holiday break the Wolves fell at Western Washington by a 62-57 score before bouncing back for a 68-49 victory at Simon Fraser. They then defeated Montana State Billings at home by a 66-55 score before suffering a home loss to Seattle Pacific by an 80-58 score. Last Saturday they fell to Saint Martin's at home by a 49-39 score.
 
The Wolves average 74.9 points per game while giving up 63.9 points per game to their opponents. WOU averages 43.1 percent from the floor, 35.7 percent from three, and 70.8 percent from the free-throw line. Opponents are averaging 38.2 percent from the floor, 29.2 percent from three, and 76.2 percent at the free-throw line. The Wolves outrebound their opponents by a 38.4 to 36 margin. WOU also contributes more assists than their opponents by a 14.7 to 11.9 assists per game. The Wolves are a disciplined team only turning the ball over 11.1 times per game while forcing 14.7 turnovers from their opponents. Of those 14.7 turnovers, 7.4 come as steals for the Wolves while opponents muster 5.7 steals per game. The Wolves average 1.3 blocks per game while opponents earn 2.5 blocks per game.
 
Western Oregon has four players averaging double-figures led by Kylani Rookstool at 18.1 points per game. Enid Vaifanua (12.1), Ciona Wells (11), and Triniti Youngblood (10.1) are the other three players averaging in double-figures. Rookstool and Natlie Brown lead the rebounding charge at 5.3 and 5.2 rebounds per game. Wells is one of the GNAC-leaders in assists with 66 already this season and leads WOU with four blocks. Youngblood has the most steals this season with 25.
 
UP NEXT:
 
The crimson and black will remain at home for a second-straight weekend when they welcome the Alaska schools. The 'Cats first see Alaska Anchorage (11-5, 3-4 GNAC) on Thursday, January 29 at 7:00 p.m. before welcoming Alaska Fairbanks (0-15, 0-7 GNAC) on Saturday, January 31 at 7:00 p.m. all from within Nicholson Arena.