ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team will begin their 2026-27 season with a huge spotlight, hosting the CWU D2 Tip-Off Classic where 12 teams, six men's and six women's, will come together to play 18 total games over three days, all inside Nicholson Arena.
The 'Cats will be joined by fellow GNAC members Montana State Billings and Western Washington. Joining the GNAC schools is Cal State San Bernardino, Chico State, and Lubbock Christian while Midwestern State, Minnesota State Moorhead, and UT Tyler will join the GNAC schools on the women's side. The excitement begins on Friday at 9:00 a.m. with the MSUB women's basketball team taking on UT Tyler.
The Wildcat Women's Basketball team will first face the Minnesota State Moorhead Dragons at 1:00 p.m. on Friday. They then take on the Midwestern State Mustangs for a spooky clash at 1:00 p.m. on Halloween this Saturday. The 'Cats then wrap up the weekend taking on the 24th-ranked UT Tyler Patriots on Sunday, also at 1:00 p.m.
GAME INFORMATION:
Friday, Oct. 30
Central Washington vs. Minnesota State Moorhead
1:00 p.m.
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Wash.
WATCH ($):
HERE
TICKETS:
HERE
Saturday, Oct. 31
Central Washington vs. Midwestern State
1:00 p.m.
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Wash.
WATCH ($):
HERE
TICKETS:
HERE
Sunday, Nov. 1
Central Washington vs. #24 UT Tyler
1:00 p.m.
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Wash.
WATCH ($):
HERE
TICKETS:
HERE
All women's basketball games will use the live stats link
HERE
View the full CWU D2 Tip-Off Classic Tournament Central page
HERE
QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON:
"We are excited to host the Tip-Off Classic and I expect a weekend full of high-level basketball and great games. Our team has done a great job in this early part of the year of buying in and finding ways to come together, build our identity, and grow. We are excited to hit the floor Friday against a very good team in MSU Moorhead."
LAST SEASON:
CWU Women's Basketball had another historic season in 2025-26, posting their highest win total since the 2021-22 season with a 25-7 record including a 14-4 GNAC record that saw them tie for second in conference play. The Wildcats were honored with hosting their first-ever West Region Championship where the 'Cats found their way back to their second-straight Sweet 16 where they fell in a tight 57-51 game to Cal Poly Pomona in front of a rowdy crowd.
On top of the successful year for the team, the 'Cats saw individuals find major success as well. Former Wildcat
Asher Cai became both the CWU and the GNAC all-time leading scorer and finished her career with 2,257 points. She also grabbed First Team All-American and Academic All-American while also being named the GNAC Female Athlete of the year, GNAC Player of the Year, and West Region Player of the Year.
Capri Sims also had a standout junior year, surpassing 1,000 career points, and was a member of the NCAA West Region Tournament and was joined by
Fiona Snashall as members of the Second Team All-GNAC squad.
LAST MEETINGS:
The Wildcats and Dragons last met in Bellingham, Wash. on Nov. 25, 2023 for the Lynda Goodrich Classic, hosted by Western Washington University. The 'Cats came away with a 73-59 victory that saw former Wildcat Sunny Huerta drill 30 points while Cai added 18 points and 10 rebounds.
The 'Cats and Mustangs will be meeting for the first time this Saturday.
CWU and UT Tyler have met once before, three seasons ago at the CCA DII Canadian Tip-Off Classic, hosted by Simon Fraser in Langley Township, B.C. The 'Cats rallied for the 64-61 victory over then seventh-ranked Patriots on Nov. 5, 2023. Huerta and Cai accounted for 47 points between the two, with Huerta finishing with 27 points and Cai adding 20 points. Cai also led the rebounding with seven rebounds while adding five assists and four steals.
SCOUTING THE DRAGONS:
Minnesota State Moorhead is coming off their best season since the 2022-23 season, finishing with a 14-14 record and a 10-12 NSIC record. They upset seventh-seeded Northern State in the opening round of the NSIC Tournament before falling to second-seeded Concordia-St. Paul in the tournament quarterfinals by a tight 70-66 score.
The Dragons were selected seventh in the NSIC 2026-27 Preseason Coaches Poll, earning 146 points. Junior guard Ashton Safranski was named to the NSIC Preseason Players to Watch List after earning 10.6 points per game and 5.6 rebounds per game last season. Sophomore guard Abby John is also returning after only playing in six games last season, but she averaged 11.3 points per game and 4.3 rebounds per game during those six contests.
MUSM returns a majority of their roster from a season ago with six newcomers joining their roster for the 2026-27 campaign. Transferring into the program is junior guard Emma Yurich from fellow NCAA Division II school Roosevelt after averaging 1.6 points per game over two seasons with the Lakers. Fifth year guard Sydney Runsewe comes to the Dragons after earning a career-high 4.8 points per game for NCAA Division II member Quincy. Rounding out the transfer class is another Laker transfer in forward Ava Brandenburg who averaged 2.4 points per game over two seasons for Roosevelt. Moorhead has added three freshmen to the team this season in guard Jenna Miller from Dell Rapids, S.D., guard Annika Dunrud from Perham, Minn., and hometown center Aria Garrett from Moorhead, Minn.
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS:
Midwestern State is coming off a campaign that saw the 'Stangs go 9-17 on the season with a 6-14 LSC record and went 4-2 to conclude the season. MSU will have a new look this season as Drew Coffman takes over the program after leading Decatur High School to back-to-back 4A state championships before heading back to his alma mater for this season.
The Mustangs were named 13th in the LSC 2026-27 Preseason Coaches Poll, gathering 283 points. Freshman forward from Decatur, Texas, Bralyn Peck was named to the LSC Preseason Players to Watch list. Along with the turnover in the coaching staff MSU saw a large turnover with only three players returning in junior guard Calyssa Sevier, sophomore guard Raeleigh Villanueva, and sophomore forward Caelyn Williams coming back for the crimson and gold.
Sevier currently averages 6.5 points per game over two seasons and 51 played games including 7.2 points per game last season. Villanueva saw action in two games for her freshman season last year and scored four points and added four rebounds and two assists. Williams played in 11 games a season ago with one start to her name, averaging 3.1 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, and added six blocks and 14 steals.
MSU saw 11 newcomers to the program for this season with the transfer class consisting of junior guard Maiya Wesley and junior forward Panagiota Kalogiruou both from Weatherford College, senior guard Payten Conde from NCAA Division II school Southwestern Oklahoma State, junior forward Elina Syniakova from Butler Community College, junior guard Peyton Stellato from fellow LSC school St. Mary's, junior forward Mallory Jackson from Cowley County Community College, and junior guard Victoria Barrera from fellow LSC member Eastern New Mexico. The Mustangs also added four freshmen, joining Peck in the freshman class is guard Mackenzie Donald from San Antonio, Texas, guard Madison McGhie from Corinth, Texas, and guard Laken Coffman from Rhome, Texas.
SCOUTING THE #24 PATRIOTS:
UT Tyler has been one of the most consistent teams in NCAA Division II over the last five seasons, making the NCAA Division II Tournament four-straight seasons with a trip to the Elite Eight in the process. Last season the Patriots finished with a 22-11 record while earning an impressive 16-4 LSC record. They took down sixth-seeded Angelo State in the quarterfinals of the LSC Tournament before bowing out in the semifinals to second-seeded West Texas A&M. They earned their revenge on the Buffs, taking down WT in the first round of the NCAA Division II Tournament by a 66-56 score before falling to eventual final four team Colorado Mesa in the second round in a tight 62-58 game. The Patriots were picked third in the LSC 2026-27 Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning 755 points including nine first-place votes.
UTT will be looking to continue their success this season as they welcome back their top three scorers in sophomore forward/guard Leila Davis, LSC Preseason Player to Watch senior guard Polina Latysheva, and sophomore guard Hayley Cumming all coming back to lead the Patriots. Davis led UTT with 12.5 points per game and finished second on the team with 5.7 rebounds per contest. She added 49 assists, 46 steals and 12 blocks. Latysheva added 10.2 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game, and led the team with 114 assists, 75 steals, and added four more blocks. Cumming tacked on 10 points per game, 3.3 rebounds per game, and made 100 assists, 48 steals, and a team-high 39 blocks.
The Patriots added four newcomers to the group this season. They included a transfer in junior guard Erinn Gardere who comes from Laney College. They also added three freshmen guards to the mix in Tylah Hooper from Melbourne, Australia, Nova Szabo from Stockholm, Sweden, and Jadyn Middleton from Frisco, Texas.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats will have a week off to prepare for their participation in the CCAA-GNAC Crossover, hosted by Northwest Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho. The 'Cats will first take on the Cal Poly Humboldt Lumberjacks on Friday, Nov. 13 at 4:15 p.m. PST and will wrap up the weekend against the Cal State East Bay Pioneers on Saturday, Nov. 14 at noon PST.
