ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The 9th-ranked Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team suffered their first GNAC defeat of the season as the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves stifled the 'Cats in the fourth quarter to earn the come-from-behind victory. In the process Asher Cai overtook the GNAC record for career points and now sits at 2,006 career points and counting.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (50), Alaska Anchorage (60)
• Records: CWU (18-2, 9-1 GNAC), UAA (12-7, 4-6 GNAC)
• Location: Nicholson Arena (Ellensburg, Wash.)

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• Alaska Anchorage nabbed the first bucket at the 8:24 mark of the first quarter when Taylor Searcey hit a jumper to make it 2-0 UAA.
• Asher Cai got the 'Cats on the board at the 7:13 mark with a pull up of her own, but Elaina Mack of the Seawolves answered on the next possession and was then answered to by Capri Sims of the 'Cats with a layup to make it a 4-4 ball game with 6:45 left in the first.
• Another round of trading a pair of baskets by the team, capped by another layup from Sims tied things up one more at 9-9 with 4:28 left in the first.
• Searcey hit a free-throw for the Seawolves, but Cai responded with the and-one followed by back-to-back buckets from Annalee Coronado and Fiona Snashall made it a 16-10 CWU game with 1:36 to go in the first.
• The teams exchanged a basket to end the first quarter with the 'Cats leading 18-15.
• Once again UAA earned the first basket of the second quarter when Elaina Mack drilled a pull up to make it an 18-17 CWU lead with 7:18 left before halftime.
• Rylee Leishman hit a three to put the 'Cats on the board in the second quarter, but Faith Mersburgh responded 30 seconds later with a layup to keep it a one possession game.
• Lillee Duffin tied things up with a layup a minute later but a three by Snashall sparked an 11-4 run by the 'Cats to took the 32-25 lead heading into the half.
• The two teams exchanged buckets to begin the third quarter, however a free-throw by Cai sparked an 8-0 run by the 'Cats to make it a 42-29 CWU lead with 2:05 left in the third.
• The Seawolves responded with a 7-0 run of their own but a layup by Capri Sims to beat the buzzer sent the teams to the final 10 minutes with the 'Cats leading 44-36.
• A quick 7-0 run by UAA saw the 'Cats lead diminished to one, 44-43 with 6:50 to go.
• A pair of free-throws and a jumper by Cai proved to be the final baskets for the 'Cats for the final 4:48 of the game as the Seawolves dumped a 15-0 run to end the game and take the 60-50 win.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Cai paced the 'Cats with 23 points while adding six rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
• Fiona Snashall finished with a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds while adding three assists and two blocks.
• Sims tacked on eight points, 12 rebounds, and a block.
• Coronado contributed four points off the bench to pair with three rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
• Leishman finished with three points and two assists while Aliyah Finch tacked on two points and three rebounds.
• Kayla Thornton had three rebounds, four assists, and two blocks while Sierra Eddie added a rebound and six assists and Emily Shaw finished with an assist.
• The 'Cats finished the game shooting 32.2 percent from the floor, 13.8 percent from three, and 88.9 percent at the free-throw line.
• The Seawolves were led by Searcey with 23 points, six rebounds, three assists, and four steals while Mahalia Harrison added 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, and three steals.
• UAA shot 35.7 percent from the floor, 16 percent from three, and 42.9 percent at the charity stripe.
• The Seawolves had the advantage in the rebound department by a slim 45-44 margin.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• UAA now leads the all-time series 40-18.
• The Seawolves are 18-9 in Ellensburg against CWU.
• Alaska Anchorage leads GNAC contests by a 36-17 margin.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• CWU will look to bounce back on Saturday when they host Alaska Fairbanks (0-18, 0-10 GNAC) for a Pink Out game at 7:00 p.m. inside Nicholson Arena.