ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The 15th-ranked Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team took down the Seattle Pacific Falcons Saturday evening to earn a home weekend sweep.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (69), Seattle Pacific (53)
• Records: CWU (22-3, 13-2 GNAC), SPU (6-17, 3-11 GNAC)
• Location: Nicholson Arena (Ellensburg, Wash.)

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• Fiona Snashall put the 'Cats on board as the two teams exchanged a pair of buckets to start the game, however a three by Grace Mertes followed by a layup from Grace Turley put the Falcons up 7-4 with 7:41 left in the first.
• The teams exchanged a basket each followed by Kayla Thornton drilling a pair of free-throws and a layup by Sims sent the teams to the second quarter knotted up at 10 apiece.
• A free-throw by Asher Cai sparked a quick 5-0 run to begin the second quarter, however SPU came back with four points of their own in back-to-back possessions to make it a 15-14 CWU lead with 5:58 left in the second.
• A three by Thornton started a huge 15-0 run with Emily Shaw draining back-to-back trey's in the process to give the 'Cats a 30-14 lead with 2:04 left in the second.
• A 6-2 run by the Falcons sent the teams to the halftime break with CWU on top 32-20.
• The teams came out of the halftime break battling bucket-for-bucket to begin the third quarter as the 'Cats maintained a 36-24 lead.
• A layup from Capri Sims started another huge 12-0 run by the 'Cats, capped by a layup from Annalee Coronado to make it a 48-24 CWU lead with 5:40 left in the third.
• A 9-2 run by SPU saw the Falcons cut it back down to a 17-point lead as the crimson and black led 50-33 with 2:23 left in the third.
• Free-throws by Coronado and Sims along with a layup from Sims ended the third quarter with the 'Cats leading 55-35.
• A pair of free-throws by Cai at the 8:58 mark of the fourth marked the first points of the fourth quarter and made it a 57-35 CWU lead.
• The two teams continued to go bucket-for-bucket after that as the 'Cats went on to earn a 69-53 victory.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Cai led the scoring in the game with 18 points while adding eight rebounds and a team-high five assists and two steals.
• Sims and Snashall both finished with double-doubles with Sims finishing with 14 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and a block while Snashall added 10 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists.
• Shaw led the CWU bench with nine points while adding an assist.
• Coronado finished with seven points, four rebounds, and three assists.
• Thornton added five points, two rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
• Aliyah Finch and Nicole Wertenberger both added three points with Finch contributing three rebounds and Wertenberger grabbing one rebound.
• Rylee Leishman added two assists and a steal while Jordy DeMott had two assists and Lylah Spring grabbed one rebound.
• CWU finished the game shooting 38.7 percent from the floor, 22.2 percent from three, and 71.4 percent from the free-throw line.
• SPU was led by Turley with 14 points, one rebound, an assist, and five steals while Grace Leasure added 13 points, six rebounds, an assist, and two blocks.
• The Falcons shot 38.5 percent from the floor, 22.2 percent from three, and 64.3 percent at the free-throw line.
• CWU won the rebound battle 51-25 with 19 rebounds coming as offensive boards.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• SPU leads the all-time series by a 45-24 margin.
• The 'Cats are 18-17 over the Falcons in Ellensburg.
• Seattle Pacific holds the advantage in conference games by a 39-23 advantage.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• CWU will embark on their last road trip of the regular season.
• They first travel to Monmouth, Ore. on Thursday, February 19 at 5:15 p.m. to take on the Western Oregon Wolves (11-11, 6-8 GNAC) in the New PE Building.
• They then travel to Lacey, Wash. to face the Saint Martin's Saints (15-8, 11-3 GNAC) on Saturday, February 21 at 5:15 p.m. inside Marcus Pavilion.