ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The 16th-ranked Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team (12-1, 3-0 GNAC) will turn their attention to their GNAC home-opening series as they welcome the Simon Fraser Red Leafs (7-8, 2-2 GNAC) on Thursday, then wrap up the weekend against arch-rivals, the Western Washington Vikings (12-3, 4-0 GNAC) on Saturday.
 
Thursday nights game will also be jersey night, so pull out that old jersey from the 'good ole days' or that amazing jersey from your favorite team and make sure to wear it and come and support your 'Cats! Thursday also provides fans with an opportunity to meet new CWU Head Football Coach Scott Power as he is introduced with the opportunity for a meet-and-greet throughout the men's and women's games.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 
Thursday, January 8
#16 Central Washington vs. Simon Fraser
5:15 p.m.
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Wash.
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LIVE STATS
TICKETS

Saturday, January 10
#16 Central Washington vs. Western Washington
5:00 p.m.
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Wash.
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LIVE STATS
TICKETS
 
QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON:
 
"We are excited to be home and have our home conference opener this week. SFU and WWU are two great programs with great players and great coaches. Our intent in our prep this week will be critical because we will challenge in different ways in both games. I'm excited for the opportunity to prepare, compete, and continue to grow."
 
LAST WEEKEND:
 
The Wildcats opened 2026 with a huge road sweep up in Alaska.
 
They first used a strong second half to pull away from the Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks by a score of 69-49. Asher Cai led the 'Cats with 23 points, adding four rebounds, three assists, and a steal while the GNAC Player of the Week Fiona Snashall added a double-double of 15 points, 16 rebounds as well as three assists and three steals. Emily Shaw tacked on 11 points, an assist, and two steals. Capri Sims also finished in double-figures with 10 points, eight rebounds, five assists, one block, and two steals. UAF was led by Jazlynn Novelli who had 19 points, three rebounds, three assists, and a steal while Pearle Green also added 16 points, three rebounds, three assists, and three blocks.
 
CWU finished the game shooting 41.5 percent from the floor, 25 percent from three, and 63.6 percent at the free-throw line. The 'Nooks finished the game shooting 42.6 percent from the floor, 37.5 percent from three, and did not attempt a free-throw. CWU won the rebound battle 38-30.
 
The crimson and black then escaped the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves by a 77-65 score after UAA came back from 21 down to tie things with five minutes left in the game. Cai once again led CWU, this time finishing with 27 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Sims and Snashall both posted double-double numbers, the second for Snashall on the weekend. Sims finished with 19 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks while Snashall added 10 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and two steals. The Seawolves saw three players finish in double-figures led by Mylee Anderson with 16 points, one rebound, and four assists. Kimberly Carrada had 15 points, four rebounds, four assists, one block, and two steals while Mahalia Harrison added 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal.
 
The 'Cats finished the game shooting 39.7 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from three, and 71.4 percent at the charity stripe. UAA shot 44.6 percent from the floor, 37.5 percent from three, and 69.2 percent at the free-throw line. The 'Cats dominated the battle of the boards by a 45-27 margin.
 
SCOUTING THE RED LEAFS:
 
Simon Fraser is 7-8 on the season and 2-2 in GNAC play. They began the season hosting the CCA Division II Canadian Tip-Off Classic where they went 1-2 falling to Wisconsin Parkside 61-50 and #21 Colorado Mesa 61-54 before ending the weekend with a 68-62 victory over Minot State. They then were swept in the PacWest/GNAC Challenge, first at Westmont by a 92-54 score, then to Vanguard by a 76-41 score. They earned a weekend sweep at the Yellowjacket Classic in Billings, Mont. defeating Adams State 49-42 and Jamestown 55-45. In the Maverick Thanksgiving Classic, they fell a second time to Colorado Mesa, this time ranked 15th, by a 81-52 score but earned a 74-67 victory against Fort Lewis. They then swept their GNAC-opening weekend, first at Seattle Pacific by a score of 57-54 before traveling back to Billings to defeat Montana State Billings 76-61. Over the holiday break they participated in the Great Western Shootout in Las Vegas where they earned a split, first defeating New Mexico Highlands 69-68 before falling to Eastern New Mexico by a 74-71 score in overtime. Last weekend they were swept at home, first falling to Saint Martin's by a 71-53 score, then losing to Western Oregon by a 68-49 score.
 
So far this season, Simon Fraser averages 58.1 points per game while giving up 65.5 points to their opponents. They are currently shooting 34.6 percent from the floor, 30.1 percent from three, and 64.5 percent at the free-throw line. Opponents have shot 38.5 percent from the floor, 22.7 percent from three, and 68.1 percent at the charity stripe. The Red Leafs are being outrebounded by a 42 to 39.1 margin. Opponents typically contribute more assists than SFU by a 14.6 to 11.5 margin per game. The Red Leafs commit 20.4 turnovers per contest compared to the 17.5 they force of their opponents. Of those 17.5 turnovers 9.1 come as steals for SFU while opponents steal the ball away 11.1 times per game. SFU has a slight edge in blocks at 2.7 per game compared to the 2.5 opponents earn.
 
Rachel Loukes leads the Leafs in scoring at 15.6 points per game with Bree Neufeld and Sophie Bergeron also averaging double figures at 10.7 and 10.3 points per game, respectfully. Loukes and Neufeld serve as the top rebounders on the team at 6.7 and 6.5 per contest. Loukes has also contributed the most assists for the Leafs at 46 so far on the season. Bergeron has 44 steals while Rilyn Quirke has 18 blocks to lead SFU.
 
SCOUTING THE VIKINGS:
 
WWU is 12-3 on the season and a perfect 4-0 in GNAC play. They also participated in the CCA Division II Canadian Tip-Off Classic where they went 2-1, first falling to Colorado Mesa by a 65-62 score before bouncing back for a 69-64 victory over Minot State and a 54-49 victory over Wisconsin Parkside. They split their time at the Falcon Classic, first defeating the reigning national runners-up and 17th-ranked Cal State Dominguez Hills by a 68-46 score before falling in a tight 79-78 game to Cal State LA. In the GNAC/PacWest Challenge the 'Vikes swept their weekend defeating Concordia Irvine by an 86-57 score before taking down Azusa Pacific 82-65. In their home-opening weekend WWU defeated Mary 72-63 and San Francisco State 76-59. They began GNAC play on the road, taking down Montana State Billings 59-56 and followed that up with a 67-43 victory over Seattle Pacific. The Vikings hosted the Great Western Shootout in Las Vegas where they defeated Eastern New Mexico 44-40 before falling in overtime to New Mexico Highlands 71-68. They earned a sweep last weekend in their GNAC home-openers, first defeating Western Oregon 62-57 then taking down Saint Martin's 77-60.
 
So far on the season, WWU has averaged 68.3 points per game while giving up 58.3 to their opponents. They have averaged 43.7 percent from the floor, 31.1 percent from three, and 70.6 percent at the free-throw line. Opponents have averaged 35.2 percent from the floor, 29.4 percent from three, and 72.2 percent at the free-throw line. The Vikings have dominated the boards this season, averaging 40.7 rebounds per game while giving up 29.7 to their opponents. They have edged out their opponents in dishing out more assists, contributing 11.8 assists per game compared to their opponents 11.7. WWU averages 15.7 turnovers per game and force 14.3 turnovers from their opponents. Of those 14.3 turnovers they force, 7.6 come as steals while opponents are able to steal the ball away from the Vikings seven times a game. WWU averages 3.7 blocks per game compared to the 2.2 opponents earn.
 
Western Washington has been led by the double-double machine in Olivia Hodges who averages 17.1 points per game and 12.3 rebounds per game. Libby Stump and Demi Dykstra also average in double-figures at 13.9 and 11.2 points per game, respectfully. Stump has contributed the most assists on the season at 55 and also leads the Vikings with 28 steals. Aspen Garrison has 17 blocks to lead WWU this season.
 
UP NEXT:
 
The 'Cats will head back on the road as they travel over to the west side of Washington see the Seattle Pacific Falcons (3-9, 0-3 GNAC) on Thursday, January 15 at 5:15 p.m. from inside the Royal Brougham Pavilion. They wrap up their road trip heading to the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets (9-7, 1-2 GNAC) for a Saturday, January 17 game at 1:00 p.m. PST from inside Alterowitz Gymnasium.