ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The 9th-ranked Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team bounced back with a giant victory over the Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks Saturday afternoon seeing five different players finish in double-digits in the process.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (92), Alaska Fairbanks (40)
• Records: CWU (19-2, 10-1 GNAC), UAF (0-19, 0-11 GNAC)
• Location: Nicholson Arena (Ellensburg, Wash.)

 
QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON:

"I was pleased with our teams response tonight. We got great contributions from everyone and our team stayed consistent for 40 minutes. Now it's onto the recovery battle for another big week next week!"

HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• Capri Sims got the scoring started just 23 seconds into the game with a layup prompting an 11-0 run to begin the game by the 'Cats until a three from Emily Freeman put the Nanooks on the board at the 5:43 mark.
• A 13-3 run by the 'Cats for the final five minutes of the first saw CWU take a 24-6 lead after the first 10 minutes.
• The two teams began the second quarter battling bucket-for-bucket but a jumper from Asher Cai at the 5:57 mark began a 19-3 run by the 'Cats including back-to-back-to-back threes from Cai to send the teams to the halftime break with the crimson and black on top 53-19.
• A three by Cai began a 10-point onslaught by the 'Cats made it a 63-19 CWU lead with seven minutes left in the third.
• The 'Nooks got on the board at the 6:37 mark sparking a brief back-and-forth battle for the rest of the quarter capped by a three from Nicole Wertenberger to send the teams to the final 10 minutes with a 73-32 CWU lead.
• Alaska Fairbanks began the fourth nabbing the first six points before another three from Wertenberger disrupted the run to make it a 76-38 CWU lead with 6:12 left.
• Following Wertenberger's three the 'Cats went on a 16-2 run with a big thanks to 10 points from Lylah Spring to help the 'Cats win 92-40.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Cai led the 'Cats with 23 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
• Aliyah Finch had her best game of the season adding 13 points, three rebounds, an assist, and two steals.
• Wertenberger tied her career-high with 12 points, two assists, and a steal.
• Spring finished with 10 points, four rebounds, and an assists while Sims contributed 10 points, four rebounds, and five assists.
• Fiona Snashall added nine points, eight rebounds, and three assists while Kayla Thornton added seven points, three rebounds, an assist, and two steals.
• Annalee Coronado finished with five points, two rebounds, and an assists while Rylee Leishman added three points, three rebounds, and four assists.
• Sierra Eddie had a team-high eight assists to go with two rebounds while Jordy DeMott added six boards, four assists, and a steal.
• The 'Cats shot 60 percent from the floor, 48.1 percent from three, and 63.6 percent from the free-throw line.
• Alaska Fairbanks was led by Tamai Mancuso who had 14 points, an assist, and two steals while Jazlynn Novelli added 10 points, an assist, and a steal.
• UAF shot 25.5 percent from the floor, 24.1 percent from three, and 71.4 percent at the free-throw line.
• The 'Cats won the rebound battle by a 44-23 margin.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• The 'Cats now lead the all-time series by a 43-13 advantage.
• CWU is 24-3 against UAF in Nicholson Arena.
• The 'Cats are on a 17-game win-streak over the Nanooks.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The 'Cats will head back on the road as they first head to Bellingham to face the Western Washington Vikings on Thursday, February 5 at 7:00 p.m. inside Carver Gym.
• CWU will then wrap up their road trip north of the border at Simon Fraser on Saturday, February 7 at 1:00 p.m. inside West Gym in Burnaby, B.C.