ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The 15th-ranked Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team is set to spend another weekend at home as they welcome the Montana State billings Yellowjackets (14-11, 6-6 GNAC) on Thursday before taking on the Seattle Pacific Falcons (6-15, 3-9 GNAC) on Saturday inside Nicholson Arena.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Thursday, February 12
#15 Central Washington vs. Montana State Billings
5:15 p.m.
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Wash.
WATCH:
HERE
LIVE STATS:
HERE
TICKETS:
HERE
Saturday, February 14
#15 Central Washington vs. Seattle Pacific
5:00 p.m.
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Wash.
WATCH:
HERE
LIVE STATS:
HERE
TICKETS:
HERE
LAST WEEKEND:
Last weekend the Wildcats earned a road split including a thrilling come-from-behind overtime victory on Saturday.
The Wildcats began the weekend with a 66-44 setback at Western Washington. The 'Cats were led by
Asher Cai who had 15 points, five rebounds, and three assists while
Annalee Coronado added 11 points, five rebounds, an assist, and a steal. The 'Cats finished the game shooting 29.2 percent from the floor, 7.1 percent from three, and 75 percent from the free-throw line. WWU was led by Joy Haltom who had 15 points while Libby Stump and Aspen Garrison both added 13 and Olivia Hodges contributed 10 points. The Vikings shot 48.2 percent from the floor, 45.5 percent from three, and 53.8 percent at the free-throw line. WWU won the rebound battle 37-30.
CWU bounced back on Saturday with an 84-76 overtime victory at Simon Fraser after the 'Cats slow start saw them down 16 points at the end of the first quarter. Cai led CWU with 33 points, six rebounds, seven assists, a block, and two steals. Coronado tacked on 24 points, eight rebounds, and two assists while
Fiona Snashall and
Capri Sims scored 11 points with Snashall adding seven rebounds, two assists, and a block and Sims tacking on four rebounds, two assists, and a block. The crimson and black shot 52.8 percent from the floor, 46.2 percent from three, and 71 percent from the free-throw line. SFU was paced by Rachel Loukes who had 28 points while Haley de Walle added 17 points and Sophie Bergeron added 11 points with Bree Neufeld grabbing 12 rebounds. SFU shot 33.3 percent from the floor, 24 percent from three, and 80 percent at the free-throw line. The 'Cats edged out SFU 43-41 in the rebound battle.
SCOUTING THE YELLOWJACKETS:
MSUB is 14-11 on the season and 6-6 in GNAC play. The 'Cats and 'Jackets last played on January 17 in Billings where
Asher Cai broke the GNAC career three-point field goal record enroute to a 91-57 victory. Since then the Yellowjackets have gone 4-1. They first traveled up to Alaska and earned a road sweep, first defeating Alaska Fairbanks 86-45, then taking down Alaska Anchorage in a 92-91 double overtime thriller. They then defeated Seattle Pacific at home 74-39 before a weekend split at home last weekend. They first fell to Saint Martin's by a 68-47 score before bouncing back to take down Western Oregon 85-48.
The Yellowjackets average 65.1 points per game while allowing 60.8 to their opponents. They average 38.0 percent from the floor, 29.1 percent from three, and 71.9 percent at the free-throw line. Opponents are averaging 38.2 percent from the floor, 29.8 percent from three, and 74.5 percent from the free-throw line. MSUB outrebounds their opponents by a 41-34.4 margin. The 'Jackets average 13.5 assists per game compared to the 12.4 assists their opponent's average. MSUB takes care of the ball, only turning the ball over 13.6 times per game while forcing 14.9 turnovers from their opponents. Of those 14.9 turnovers they force, eight come as steals while opponents earn 7.2 steals per contest. MSUB averages 3.2 blocks per game while opponents average 3.5 blocks.
Cassie Chesnut leads MSUB at 12.3 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per contest. She also has 27 blocks on the year and 36 steals to lead the 'Jackets in those respective categories. Kyla Momberg also adds 10.8 points per game as the only other 'Jacket to average in double-digits. Tailey Harris leads the Yellowjackets with 76 assists on the season.
SCOUTING THE FALCONS:
Seattle Pacific is 6-15 on the season with a 3-9 GNAC record. The 'Cats and Falcons last met on January 15 in Seattle where the 'Cats took an 88-56 victory. Following that game SPU lost 72-62 at home to Northwest Nazarene. They then went on the road where they earned a pair of big wins, first a 101-98 victory at Alaska Anchorage followed by a 69-56 victory at Alaska Fairbanks. They went back on the road and fell at Montana State Billings by a 74-39 score. Last weekend they were at home where they were swept, first falling to Western Oregon by a 75-64 score, then falling to Saint Martin's by a 67-47 score.
The Falcons average 59.3 points per game while giving up 70.2 points to their opponents. They average 35.7 percent from the floor, 27 percent from three, and 74.1 percent at the free-throw line. Opponents average 39.4 percent from the floor, 32.1 percent from three, and 71.5 percent from the free-throw line. Opponents are outrebounding the Falcons by a 42.7 to 35.7 margin. Opponents contribute more assists per game than the Falcons by a 13.1 to 11.1 margin. SPU commits 18.7 turnovers per contest compared to the 16.9 turnovers they force from their opponents. Of those 16.9 turnovers they force, nine come as steals for SPU while opponents steal the ball away from the Falcons at a 9.7 clip per game. SPU averages a GNAC-best 4.8 blocks per game while opponents average 3.4 blocks per game.
Layne Kearns, Grace Turley, and Grace Leasure all average in double-figures for the Falcons at 12.9, 11.1, and 10 points per game, respectfully. Kearns leads the rebounding charge at 5.7 rebounds per game with Madison Rubino not far behind at 5.1 rebounds a game. Haylie-Anne Ohta has contributed 66 assists on the season to lead SPU. Ohta also leads the Falcons in steals with 45 while Leasure has paced the blocking charge with a whopping 43 during the campaign.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats will head back on the road next weekend, first traveling to Western Oregon (11-10, 6-7 GNAC) on Thursday, January 19 at 5:15 p.m. from inside the New PE Building in Monmouth, Oregon. CWU will then travel to Lacey, Wash. to see the Saint Martin's Saints (14-8, 10-3 GNAC) on Saturday, January 21 at 5:15 p.m. inside Marcus Pavilion.
