ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The 15th-ranked Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team clinched a berth in the GNAC Tournament after earning their second-straight overtime victory after taking down the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets after Asher Cai tied her career-high with 37 points to begin their home weekend Thursday evening.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (73), Montana State Billings (65) OT
• Records: CWU (21-3, 12-2 GNAC), MSUB (14-12, 6-7 GNAC)
• Location: Nicholson Arena (Ellensburg, Wash.)

 
QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON:
 
"Our team gutted out another tough conference win and that's what you have to do in this league. I was very pleased with how we buckled down and got stops in OT. That shows a lot of grit. Asher and Capri stepped up big for us and their performances were critical in getting us this win."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• MSUB earned the first bucket of the game on their first possession, but Cai responded on the next possession to tie things up.
• A layup by Capri Sims gave CWU their first lead but a pair of buckets by the Yellowjackets sparked an exchange of a bucket to knot the teams up at eight apiece with 3:06 left in the first.
• A jumper by Cai was the start of the 'Cats 9-2 run to end the first with CWU on top 15-10.
• Cai began the second quarter drilling a three, but Kaitlin Grossman responded with a layup a minute later, a layup by Annalee Coronado started a 9-0 run by the 'Cats who saw their lead go to 27-12 with 4:49 left in the second quarter.
• Each team exchanged a trifecta of buckets to end the first half with the 'Cats on top 32-20.
• Brooklynn Brennan earned a layup for MSUB to start the third quarter, but a buckets from Cai, Sims, and Coronado helped put the 'Cats back up 16, 38-22 with 7:18 left in the third.
• A quick 7-0 run by MSUB saw the CWU lead back down to single digits at 38-29 with 5:34 left in the third.
• The teams continued to go bucket-for-bucket over the next several minutes, but a pair of free-throws by Allison Kunze of MSUB concluded the third quarter with the crimson and black on top 44-37.
• Cai opened the fourth quarter with a three to bring the lead back to double digits only to see the Yellowjackets respond with a big 6-0 run to cut it to a 47-43 CWU lead.
• A three by Cai sparked a quick 8-2 run to bring the crimson and black lead back to double digits once again at 55-45 with 5:42 left.
• A rinse and repeat with MSUB who had another quick 6-0 run to make it a 55-51 CWU lead with 4:12 to go.
• A pair of free-throws by Cai and a layup by Sims saw the 'Cats extend the lead back out to eight only to see the Yellowjackets go on a 11-3 run to end the game and send it to overtime after a putback attempt by Grossman to win the game was called off after it was determined it didn't leave her hand before the buzzer.
• Cai started off overtime with a pair of free-throws which was backed up by a layup from Coronado to make it 66-62 CWU with 4:10 left.
• The 'Jackets got on the board at the 1:42 mark with a pair of free-throws by was answered to by a 7-1 run by CWU thanks to clutch free-throws by Sims and Cai to seal the 73-65 CWU overtime victory and clinch a spot in the GNAC Tournament.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Cai tied her career-high with 37 points while adding 4 rebounds, six assists, and a steal.
• Sims finished with a double-double of 18 points and 18 rebounds while adding an assist.
• Coronado added 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists off the bench.
• Kayla Thornton, Fiona Snashall, and Aliyah Finch all added two points.
• Thornton added four rebounds, an assist, and a block while Snashall tacked on five rebounds and three assists while Finch grabbed a rebound and a steal.
• Rylee Leishman had an assist and a block.
• CWU finished the game shooting 40.7 percent from the floor, 21.1 percent from three, and 80.8 percent from the free-throw line.
• Grossman and Cassie Chesnut led the 'Jackets with 18 points and nine rebounds while Grossman had six assists, two blocks, and three steals and Chesnut added five assists, four blocks, and three steals.
• Kunze also finished in double digits with 10 points and an assist.
• MSUB shot 34.2 percent from the floor, 14.3 percent from three, and 72.2 percent at the free-throw line.
• CWU won the rebound battle 46-42.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• MSUB continues to lead the all-time series by a 32-20 margin.
• MSUB is 13-11 in Ellensburg against CWU.
• The 'Jackets lead in conference matchups 23-18.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• CWU will face the Seattle Pacific Falcons on Saturday.
• Tip-off is set for 5:00 p.m. from inside Nicholson Arena.