ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The 9th-ranked Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team will continue their homestand as they welcome the Alaska schools. CWU first faces the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves (11-7, 3-6 GNAC) on Thursday before wrapping up the homestand against the Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks (0-17, 0-9 GNAC) on Saturday.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 
Thursday, January 29
#9 Central Washington vs. Alaska Anchorage
7:00 p.m.
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Wash.
WATCH: HERE
LIVE STATS: HERE
TICKETS: HERE
 
Saturday, January 31
#9 Central Washington vs. Alaska Fairbanks
7:00 p.m.
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Wash.
WATCH: HERE
LIVE STATS: HERE
TICKETS: HERE

QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON:

"I'm excited to be home for another week and another opportunity to take the floor, continue to compete, learn more about ourselves, and continue to grow as a group."
 
LAST WEEKEND:
 
The Wildcats began their homestand with a pair of hard-fought, exciting victories.
 
They first defeated the then second-place in the GNAC standings Saint Martin's Saints by a 57-54 score. The Wildcats and Saints battled back-and-forth but a 17-point fourth quarter by Asher Cai helped the 'Cats gain the huge victory. Cai led the game with 24 points while adding five rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and a steal. Kayla Thornton and Capri Sims both added eight points and five rebounds with Thornton tacking on three assists and a block and Sims contributing two assists, a block, and a steal. Fiona Snashall finished with two points, 10 rebounds, an assist, two blocks, and a steal. The 'Cats show 38.2 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from three, and 72.7 percent from the free-throw line. SMU was paced by Kiana Rios with 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals while Avery Oaster had a double-double of 13 points, 11 rebounds, an assist, a block, and three steals. The Saints shot 32.7 percent from the floor, 25 percent from three, and 82.4 percent from the free-throw line. The 'Cats earned the advantage on the boards by a 38-37 margin.
 
CWU then staved off Western Oregon who came back from an 18-point deficit to tie things at the start of the fourth quarter, however an over five-minute defensive stand by the 'Cats down the stretch sealed the 57-49 victory. Sims paced CWU with 22 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and a steal while Cai was the other Wildcat to finish in double figures with 14 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Snashall added four points, 23 rebounds which tied for the sixth best in GNAC single game history, four assists, a block, and two steals. CWU shot 35.5 percent from the floor, 19 percent from three, and 60 percent from the free-throw line. The Wolves had three players in double figures, led by Enid Vaifanua with 16 points, four rebounds, four assists, and a steal while Kylani Rookstool and Triniti Youngblood both had 10 points. WOU shot 31.7 percent from the floor, 19 percent from three, and 71.4 percent at the free-throw line. The crimson and black dominated the boards by a 54-32 margin.
 
SCOUTING THE SEAWOLVES:
 
The Seawolves are currently 11-7 on the season including a 3-6 GNAC record. They began their season with a pair of victories over Northwest at home before taking a trip to Hawaii where they swept Hawaii Pacific and Chaminade before taking out their in-state rival Hawaii Hilo at home. In the Great Alaska Shootout they fell to St. Thomas and Bowling Green in a tight contest with both being an exhibition. Following the Great Alaska Shootout they swept NCAA Division II newcomer UC Merced in a pair of games. In their GNAC-opening weekend they fell on the road to St. Martin's and Western Oregon and then suffering an exhibition loss to Oregon State. Over the holiday break the Seawolves went back to Hawaii and split, defeating Colorado School of Mines before falling to Ferris State. Coming back from the holiday break UAA split at home, defeating Northwest Nazarene before falling to CWU in their first matchup by a 77-65 score. They bounced back for a home victory over Alaska Fairbanks before heading back on the road where they split, defeating Simon Fraser before suffering a defeat to Western Washington. Last weekend they had a pair of high-scoring affairs in which they both lost, first a 101-98 game against Seattle pacific before falling to Montana State Billings in double overtime by a 91-91 score.
 
UAA averages 79.6 points per game while giving up 68.3 points to their opponents. The Seawolves average 41.3 percent from the floor, 29.7 percent from three, and 67.5 percent from the free-throw line. Their opponents average 37.8 percent from the floor, 27.8 percent from three, and 69.2 percent from the free-throw line. The Seawolves average 44.2 rebounds per game while giving up 40.9 rebounds per game to their opponents. UAA contributes more assists than their opponents by an 18-16 margin per game. The Seawolves are a disciplined team only averaging 13.8 turnovers per game while forcing 17.2 turnovers from their opponents. UAA earns 9.6 steals per game while their opponents average 6.6 steals per game. UAA earns 2.8 blocks per game while their opponents average 2.9 blocks per game.
 
The Seawolves have five players averaging double-digits, led by Mahalia Harrison and Elaina Mack at 19.3 and 17.1 points per game, respectfully. Taylor Searcey (12.6), Mylee Anderson (11.5), and Kimberly Carrada Sanchez (10.4) are the other three athletes that are averaging in double-digits. Lillee Duffin is the leader in the rebounding department at 10.1 rebounds per game. Anderson has contributed the most assists at 78 on the season while Harrison has the most steals with 35 and Mack has the most blocks with 12.
 
SCOUTING THE NANOOKS:
 
Alaska Fairbanks has an 0-17 record with an 0-9 GNAC record. UAF suffered a pair of setbacks in exhibition play, first at George Fox, then at Oregon State. They fell to Hawaii Hilo and The Master's in the North Star Invitational at home in their regular season-opening weekend. The 'Nooks fell to Westminster and Colorado Mesa in the Westminster Tournament before heading to Minnesota and falling to Minnesota State Moorhead and St. Cloud State. In their GNAC-opening weekend they fell at Western Oregon and Saint Martin's before suffering a pair of setbacks at Azusa Pacific and Biola over the holiday break. Following the holidays UAF fell at home to Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene. They then went on the road falling first at Alaska Anchorage, then fell at Western Washington and Simon Fraser. Last weekend they fell at home to Montana State Billings by an 86-45 score, then fell to Seattle Pacific by a 69-59 score.
 
So far this season, UAF averages 51.6 points per game while giving up 87.9 points to their opponents. The 'Nooks are shooting 31.8 percent from the floor, 25.2 percent from three, and 60.5 percent from the free-throw line. Opponents are averaging 46.3 percent from the floor, 31.6 percent from three, and 67.2 percent at the free-throw line. Opponents outrebound UAF by a 49.1 to 32.6 margin. Opponents also contribute more assists per game by a 22.6 to 9.6 margin. The 'Nooks are a bit turnover heavy at 22.5 per game while forcing opponents into 14.2 turnovers per game. Of those 14.2 turnovers, 7.7 come as steals for the 'Nooks while opponents steal the ball away from the 'Nooks 14.3 times per game. UAF averages 2.5 blocks per game while opponents average 3.8 blocks per game.
 
Tamai Mancuso leads the Nanooks at 12.6 points per game while Jazlynn Novelli earns 10.4 points per game. Ashlyn Waggoner leads UAF with 5.5 rebounds per game while Emily Freeman has the most assists with 36. Genevieve Velasquez has 21 steals to her name this season while Amelia Brady has the most blocks with 10.
 
UP NEXT:
 
The Wildcats will head back on the road, first heading to Bellingham to see the Western Washington Vikings (15-5, 7-2 GNAC) on Thursday, February 5 at 7:00 p.m. inside Carver Gym. They then head north of the border to face the Simon Fraser Red Leafs (8-12, 3-6 GNAC) on Saturday, February 7 at 1:00 p.m. inside the West Gym.