ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The 16th-ranked Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team used a strong second half to pull away from the Simon Fraser Red Leafs in the GNAC home-opener Thursday evening.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (64), Simon Fraser (53)
• Records: CWU (13-1, 4-0 GNAC), SFU (7-9, 2-3 GNAC)
• Location: Nicholson Arena (Ellensburg, Wash.)

 
QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON:
 
"Incredibly happy to come out of tonight getting a win against SFU. We have so much respect for what they do and the athletes they have, and tonight we definitely got challenged. However, I'm proud of how we navigated those challenges and found a way to get some consistent stops and score to stretch out the lead. Fiona and Capri both had massive nights for us both defensively, offensively, and on the boards. It was fun to watch them work. Asher gave us a big lift at the end hitting some critical shots to put the game out of reach. Everyone stepped up on their own way, and it will be a great game to build upon heading into Saturday."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• Capri Sims got the game started with a layup but was quickly responded to by Rilyn Quirke of SFU to tie things at two apiece.
• A jumper by Asher Cai on the next possession was the beginning of six-straight points by the 'Cats.
• Each team exchanged a basket, but a pair of free-throws by Sophie Bergeron and a layup by Rachel Loukes saw the Red Leafs pull with in one possession by a 10-8 score in favor of CWU.
• Annalee Coronado drilled a three and was followed by a pair of free-throws by Cai to make it a 15-8 CWU lead with 2:23 left in the first.
• The Red Leafs earned a pair of buckets with a three by Rylee Leishman falling in between them as the 'Cats took the 18-12 lead after the first quarter.
• An and-one by Sims followed by a free-throw by Kayla Thornton gave CWU their first double-digit lead of the game at 22-12 with 7:49 left in the second.
• Simon Fraser had different plans as they rattled off a 14-6 run to see the crimson and black take a 27-26 halftime lead.
• The 'Cats got back to work coming out of the halftime break with a pair of layups by Fiona Snashall and Thornton to make it a 31-26 CWU lead, however a minute and a half later SFU tied things up at 31 apiece.
• Sierra Eddie and Snashall drilled back-to-back threes to put the 'Cats back in front but rinse and repeat, the Red Leafs dug their way back to make it a 38-37 CWU lead with 2:54 left in the third.
• A pair of buckets by Sims and another by Cai concluded the third with the 'Cats on top 44-38.
• Cai opened the fourth quarter with a three which sparked a bucket-for-bucket battle between the teams as CWU held onto a 49-41 lead with 7:20 to go.
• A pair of layups by Sims and Snashall paired with a three by Eddie saw the Wildcat lead balloon to 15, 56-41 with 4:59 left in the game.
• A quick 6-2 run by the Red Leafs was responded to by CWU with back-to-back threes from Cai to put the game out of reach as CWU led 64-47 with 3:02 left.
• Simon Fraser scored the final six points as the 'Cats earned a 64-53 victory.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Sims led the 'Cats with 18 points, adding 11 rebounds, three assists, and one block.
• Cai added 17 points, four rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal.
• Snashall increased her double-double streak to three games with 11 points, 22 rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and one steal.
• Eddie and Coronado each tacked on six points with Eddie adding two rebounds and three assists and Coronado adding three rebounds.
• Thornton and Leishman both finished with three points with Thornton adding two rebounds, five assists, one block, and one steal and Leishman adding a rebound.
• Jordy DeMott grabbed two rebounds.
• The 'Cats finished the game shooting 36.4 percent from the floor, 30 percent from three, and 58.3 percent at the free-throw line.
• The Red Leafs were led by Haley de Walle with 17 points, four rebounds, one assist, and two steals while Loukes added 15 points, six rebounds, two assists, one block, and two steals.
• SFU finished the game shooting 31.5 percent from the floor, 41.7 percent from three, and 70 percent at the free-throw line.
• The 'Cats dominated the battle of the boards by a 52-31 margin including 20 offensive rebounds.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• Simon Fraser now leads the all-time series by a 39-22 margin.
• CWU is on an eight-game win-streak.
• The 'Cats are 9-20 against the Red Leafs in Nicholson Arena.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will wrap up their GNAC home-opening weekend with a rivalry game as the Western Washington Vikings (12-4, 4-1 GNAC) come to Ellensburg.
• The 'Cats and 'Vikes clash on Saturday, January 10 at 5:00 p.m. inside Nicholson Arena.