ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The 12th-ranked Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team will head back on the road as they head west to Bellingham for another rivalry game at Western Washington (16-6, 8-3 GNAC) on Thursday before heading north of the border to Simon Fraser (8-14, 3-8 GNAC) on Saturday.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Thursday, February 5
#12 Central Washington at Western Washington
7:00 p.m.
WECU Court at Carver Gym
Bellingham, Wash.
WATCH:
HERE
LIVE STATS:
HERE
TICKETS:
HERE
Saturday, February 7
#12 Central Washington at Simon Fraser
1:00 p.m.
West Gym
Burnaby, B.C.
WATCH:
HERE
LIVE STATS:
HERE
TICKETS:
HERE
LAST WEEKEND:
The Wildcats had a split in the final weekend of their homestand.
They first suffered their first GNAC defeat of the season in a 60-50 loss against Alaska Anchorage. The Wildcats held the lead for the majority of the game but a 24-6 fourth quarter by the Seawolves led UAA to the victory. CWU was led by
Asher Cai with 23 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals while
Fiona Snashall added a double-double of 10 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.
Capri Sims added eight points, 12 rebounds, and a block. The 'Cats shot 32.2 percent from the floor, 13.8 percent from three, and 88.9 percent at the free-throw line. UAA was paced by Taylor Searcey with 23 points, six rebounds, three assists, and four steals while Mahalia Harrison added 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, and three steals and Lillee Duffin had 15 rebounds. The Seawolves shot 35.7 percent from the floor, 16 percent from three, and 42.9 percent at the free-throw line. UAA won the rebound battle by a 45-44 margin.
The 'Cats bounced back with a dominating 92-40 victory over Alaska Fairbanks. The 'Cats got off to an 11-0 start and never looked back. The 'Cats had five players in double-figures led by Cai with 23 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
Aliyah Finch added 13 points, three rebounds, an assist, and two steals while
Nicole Wertenberger added 12 points, two assists, and a steal and Sims and
Lylah Spring both added 10 points with Sims grabbing four rebounds and five assists while Spring grabbed four rebounds and an assist. CWU shot 60 percent from the floor, 48.1 percent from three, and 63.6 percent from the floor. The Nanooks were led by Tamai Mancuso with 14 points, an assist, and two steals with Jazlynn Novelli added 10 points, an assist, and a steal. UAF shot 25.5 percent from the floor, 24.1 percent from three, and 71.4 percent at the free-throw line. The 'Cats dominated the boards by a 44-23 margin.
SCOUTING THE VIKINGS:
WWU is 16-6 on the season with an 8-3 record in GNAC play and a 7-0 record at home. The Wildcats and Vikings met on January 10 in Ellensburg with the 'Cats winning 75-58. Since the 'Cats and 'Vikes last met, WWU has gone 4-1. They first swept the Alaska schools at home. They first beat Alaska Fairbanks at home by a 72-47 score before defeating Alaska Anchorage by an 81-65 score. They continued their homestand with a 66-40 victory over Simon Fraser. Last weekend they split on the road. They first lost to Saint Martin's by a 56-48 score before bouncing back for a 66-44 win at Western Oregon.
The Vikings are averaging 67.1 points per game while giving up 57.7 points to their opponents. They average 42.8 percent from the floor, 27.8 percent from three, and 71.2 percent at the free-throw line. Opponents are averaging 35.3 percent from the floor, 29.7 percent from the floor, and 73.5 percent at the free-throw line. WWU is one of the best rebounding teams in the GNAC, grabbing 41.4 boards per game while opponents grab 29.2 rebounds per game. The Vikings contribute 12.6 assists per game compared to the 11.7 their opponents contribute. WWU averages 15.9 turnovers per game while forcing 14.4 turnovers from their opponents. Of the 14.4 turnovers they force, 7.5 come as steals while opponents snag 7.8 steals per game from the Vikings. The 'Vikes average 4.1 blocks per game while opponents get 2.5 blocks per game.
Olivia Hodges paces the Vikings with a double-double average of 16.7 points per game and 12.3 rebounds per game. Libby Stump and Demi Dykstra both average double-digits at 14.3 and 11 points per game, respectfully. Stump has dished out the most assists on the season with 83 and also leads the Vikings with 37 steals. Aspen Garrison has the most blocks on the season with 27 already this season.
SCOUTING THE RED LEAFS:
Simon Fraser is 8-14 on the season and 3-8 in GNAC play. The 'Cats and Leafs met on January 8 in Ellensburg as the 'Cats won 64-53. Since their last clash the Red Leafs have been 1-5. They lost at Northwest Nazarene by an 81-64 score to conclude their roadtrip. They then welcomed the Alaska schools where they earned a split. They fell to Alaska Anchorage by a 79-72 score before bouncing back for a 109-46 victory against Alaska Fairbanks. They then traveled to Western Washington where they lost 66-40. Last weekend they were swept on the road, first falling 67-63 to Western Oregon before falling at Saint Martin's by a 66-55 score.
SFU averages 60.4 points per game while giving up 66 points per contest to their opponents. They average 35.2 percent from the floor, 31.9 percent from three, and 66.6 percent at the free-throw line. Opponents are averaging 39.1 percent from the floor, 26.5 percent from three, and 68.9 percent at the free-throw line. Opponents outrebound the Leafs by a 41.8 to 38.1 margin per game. SFU dishes out 12.4 assists per game while opponents contribute 15.1 assists per game. The Red Leafs average 18.7 turnovers per game while their opponents average 18.5 turnovers per game. Of those 18.5 turnovers per game, 9.7 come as steals while opponents steal the ball away 9.6 times per game. SFU averages 2.9 blocks per game while opponents earn 3.1 blocks per game.
Rachel Loukes is one of three Leafs to average double-digits this season at 15.4 points per game. Bree Neufeld and Sophie Bergeron are the other two Red Leafs averaging double-digits at 11.9 and 10.6 points per game. Neufeld and Loukes lead the rebounding charge for SFU at 6.4 and 6.3 rebounds per game, respectfully. Loukes also leads the team in assists at 67 while Bergeron is one of the conference leaders in steals with 60 on the season. Rilyn Quirke leads SFU with 30 blocks on the year.
UP NEXT:
The 'Cats will head back home as they prepare to welcome the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets (13-10, 5-5 GNAC) on Thursday, February 12 at 5:15 p.m. They wrap up the weekend against the Seattle Pacific Falcons (6-13, 3-7 GNAC) on Saturday, February 14 at 5:00 p.m. with both games happening inside Nicholson Arena.
