Central Washington University Athletics

ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team (0-1) fell in their season-opening test against the Minnesota State Moorhead Dragons (1-0) on the first day of the CWU D2 Tip-Off Classic.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (65), Minnesota State Moorhead (74)
• Records: CWU (0-1), MSUM (1-0)
• Location: Nicholson Arena (Ellensburg, Wash.)

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• Capri Sims put the 'Cats on the board at the 9:41 mark with a jumper, but the Dragons responded with back-to-back buckets, but The 'Cats retook the lead with back-to-back treys from Baylee Maldonado and Sims with Maldonado logging her first collegiate points in the process.
• Ashton Safranski responded with a three of her own, but a free-throw by Sims sparked a 6-0 run by the 'Cats which also saw Amaya Jarvis earn her first collegiate points in the process to put the 'Cats up 14-7 with 3:28 left in the first.
• A layup by Grace Massaquoi was responded with a layup from Thornton and a three from Maldonado to make it a double-digit lead for the 'Cats at 19-9 with 2:10 left in the first.
• A jumper by Sydney Runsewe and a pair of free throws by Aubrey Morrison ended the first quarter with the 'Cats leading 19-13.
• The Dragons came out in the second quarter swinging with a 12-4 run to put the Dragons back on top at 25-23 with 6:21 left before the half.
• A three by Jarvis put the 'Cats back on top, but the Dragons wouldn't allow it, going on a 6-0 run to make it 32-26 MSUM with 3:53 before the half.
• Jarvis drilled a three and Sims backed it up with a layup to cut it to a one-point game, but a 7-0 run to end the second put the Dragons up 39-31 going into halftime.
•  The 'Cats came out roaring to start the third quarter with a quick five points from Sims to make it a one possession game once again started a back-and-forth battle between the teams with a free-throw by Jarvis sending the teams to the media timeout with MSUM leading 45-42.
• A quick 7-0 run by the Dragons saw MSUM take a double-digit lead at 52-42 with 2:18 left in the third.
• Lauren Burnside grabbed her first collegiate points at the 1:49 mark in the third and a pair of free-throws by Maldonado ended the third quarter with the Dragons leading 55-46.
• Maldonado immediately drilled a three to begin the fourth quarter and after a layup from Sims followed by a three form Jarvis, the 'Cats cut the Dragon lead down to one, 55-54 with 7:14 to go in the game.
• The teams continued to battle back and forth until a 8-0 run by the Dragons put them firmly in the lead at 67-58 with 2:03 left in the game.
• The teams went back-and-forth to end the game as the 'Cats couldn't string together points to get back in the game as the Dragons held on for the 74-65 victory.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Jarvis led the 'Cats with 22 points and added six rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
• Sims added 17 points, three rebounds, two assists, and a block.
• Maldonado earned 15 points to go with four rebounds and two assists.
• Burnside finished with six points, a team-high nine rebounds, an assist, and two steals.
• Thornton and Nicole Wertenberger each added two points with Thornton finishing with three rebounds, an assist, a block, and a steal and Wertenberger adding a rebound and a steal.
• Mackenzie Schulz had one point, four rebounds, and two blocks while Rylee Leishman had one rebound, one assist, and a steal.
• The 'Cats finished the day shooting 42.9 percent from the floor, 32 percent from three, and 52.9 percent at the free-throw line.
• The Dragons were led by Safranski with 24 points while Caylin Kelly added 13 points.
• MSUM shot 40 percent from the floor, 36.4 percent from three, and 70 percent at the free-throw line.
• The Dragons won the rebound battle 40-31.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• Minnesota State Moorhead earned their first-ever victory over the 'Cats, but CWU still leads the series 2-1.
• This was the first meeting in Ellensburg.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• CWU will look to rebound against Midwestern State (0-1) tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. on day two of the CWU D2 Tip-Off Classic inside Nicholson Arena.