MONMOUTH, Ore. – The 13th-ranked Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team couldn't recover from a slow start, falling at Western Oregon Thursday afternoon. 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (57), Western Oregon (66)
• Records: CWU (22-4, 13-3 GNAC), WOU (12-11, 7-8 GNAC)
• Location: Wolves Athletic Center (Monmouth, Ore.)

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• Salma Youngblood got the game going sparking the Wolves to score on their first three possessions to take a 7-0 lead. 
• A pair of free-throws by Capri Sims put the 'Cats on the board at the 7:33 mark, but the Wolves responded with a 9-0 run to make it a 16-2 WOU lead. 
• A three by Kayla Thornton at the 4:38 mark was the spark the 'Cats needed to rattle off seven-straight and cut it to a 16-9 Wolf lead. 
• The teams exchanged a few buckets but four free-throws by Asher Cai ended the first quarter with WOU leading 22-17. 
• The teams battled back-and-forth to begin the second quarter but a three by Kylani Rookstool and a pair of free-throws by Ciona Wells gave WOU a 34-25 lead with 4:51 left in the second.
• The two teams exchanged a pair of buckets but back-to-back threes by the Wolves gave them the 43-30 advantage heading into the half.
• The teams continued their battle coming out of the halftime break as the Wolves had a response for every bucket the 'Cats earned. 
• A three by Fiona Snashall started a 7-0 run by the 'Cats to end the third with WOU leading 46-55. 
• The teams exchanged a pair of buckets to begin the fourth but a free-throw by Sims, two free-throws by Cai, and a jumper from Snashall brought the 'Cats to five, 58-53 with 2:24 remaining. 
• The Wolves hit their free-throws down the stretch to secure the 66-57 victory.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Snashall and Cai led the 'Cats with 17 points apiece.
• Snashall added a double-double with 18 rebounds while Cai had three rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
• Sims and Thornton both added seven points with Sims adding 17 rebounds, an assist, and a block and Thornton contributing two rebounds and four assists. 
• Annalee Coronado finished with nine points, two rebounds, and two assists.
• Emily Shaw had an assist.
• The 'Cats finished the game shooting 31.7 percent from the floor, 19.2 percent from three, and 93.3 percent from the floor.
• Rookstool led WOU with 18 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a steal while Wells had 13 points, Danyell Booker had 11 points, and Youngblood had 10 points.
• WOU shot 42.9 percent from the floor, 50 percent from three, and 58.8 percent from the free-throw line.
• The 'Cats won the battle of the boards 43-32.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• CWU leads the all-time series 38-15.
• The 'Cats are 16-11 against the Wolves in Monmouth.
• CWU is 38-15 in conference matchups.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will head up to Lacey, Wash. to visit the Saint Martin's Saints on Saturday with a 5:15 p.m. tip-off from inside Marcus Pavilion.