BURNABY, B.C. – The 12th-ranked Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team bounced back for a come-from-behind victory in overtime over the Simon Fraser Red Leafs Saturday afternoon.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (84), Simon Fraser (76) (OT)
• Records: CWU (20-3, 11-2 GNAC), SFU (8-16, 3-10 GNAC)
• Location: West Gym (Burnaby, B.C.)

 
QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON:
 
"Tonight our team got challenged out of the gate being down 18 at one point in the first. They stepped up and responded in the only way you can to pull out a game like that. I'm proud of how they came together and showed belief and confidence in one another. Anna stepped up big time tonight on both ends. Asher had a big night and hit some big shots for us down the stretch. Fiona also made some huge plays offensively to help us get back into the game and got some big offensive boards to help us put the game out of reach. I'm so proud of this group and now it's time to recover and get ready for next week."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• Rachel Loukes put the Leafs on the board first just 55 seconds into the game but Kayla Thornton answered with at three of her own, however SFU responded with a 10-0 run of their own to take the 13-3 lead with 6:20 left in the first. 
• Asher Cai broke the SFU streak at the 4:45 mark with the 'Cats second bucket, a layup to make it 13-5 SFU. 
• A 10-2 run by SFU to end the first saw the Red Leafs take the 23-7 lead after the first 10 minutes. 
• The 'Cats started the second quarter on fire, with Annalee Coronado getting the first five of seven points of the quarter with Fiona Snashall adding a three in the mix to cut it to a 23-15 SFU lead with 8:32 left in the second. 
• Cai added another bucket before the Red Leafs got on the board for the second quarter to make it a 25-17 SFU lead with 6:46 left in the second.
• The teams battled it back-and-forth over the next few minutes until a three from Cai at the 2:29 mark sparked a 12-1 run by the 'Cats, capped with a Snashall three to beat the buzzer to give CWU the 37-35 lead at the half. 
• The Red Leafs took back the momentum to begin the third going on a 13-4 run to make it a 48-41 SFU lead heading into the media timeout. 
• A layup by Coronado backed by a pair of free-throws by Cai saw the 'Cats pull within one possession as SFU led 48-45 with 3:19 left in the third.
• Zoe Sharpe drilled a free-throw for SFU, but a pair of free-throws by Rylee Leishman and a third by Coronado pulled the 'Cats within one, 49-48 SFU with 2:32 left in the third. 
• A 7-0 run to end the quarter by the Red Leafs saw them take the 59-50 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes.
• The crimson and black wouldn't go quietly as Cai drilled a jumper 47 seconds into the fourth which sparked a huge 13-0 run by the 'Cats to begin the fourth, holding Simon Fraser to their first basket at the 3:34 mark while taking the lead back 63-62. 
• The teams then exchanged a pair of baskets before a layup by Haley de Walle followed by a three from Sophie Bergeron gave the Red Leafs the 70-68 lead with 50 seconds to go. 
• A layup by Cai at the 39 second mark tied things up at 70 apiece to send the teams to overtime. 
• Capri Sims got a quick basket to give the 'Cats the lead once again and was followed by two free-throws from Cai and a third from Coronado made it a 75-70 CWU lead with 3:10 to go.
• The teams went back-and-forth but the 'Cats held off any attempt by the Red Leafs to get any closer forcing SFU to foul at the end of the game which saw Coronado and Sims hit free-throws as the 'Cats escaped Burnaby with the 84-76 overtime victory over Simon Fraser.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Cai led the game with 33 points, adding six rebounds, seven assists, one block, and two steals.
• Coronado had her career-high of 24 points which she paired with eight rebounds, and two assists. 
• Snashall and Sims both tacked on 11 points with Snashall adding seven rebounds, two assists, and a block and Sims contributing four rebounds, two assists, and a block.
• Thornton finished with three points, two rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
• Leishman added two points, two rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
• Aliyah Finch had five rebounds while Emily Shaw had an assist.
• The 'Cats finished the game shooting 52.8 percent from the floor, 46.2 percent from three, and 71 percent at the free-throw line.
• SFU saw Rachel Loukes lead the team with 28 points, six rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and three steals.
• de Walle added 17 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
• Bergeron added 11 points, two rebounds, and a steal. 
• The Red Leafs finished the game shooting 33.3 percent from the floor, 24 percent from three, and 80 percent from the free-throw line.
• The 'Cats won the rebound battle by a 43-41 margin.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• The Red Leafs lead the all-time series 39-23.
• The 'Cats are on a nine-game win-streak.
• SFU is 18-10 against the Red Leafs in Burnaby.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The 'Cats will head back to Ellensburg for a home weekend.
• They first welcome the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets on Thursday, February 12 at 5:15 p.m. 
• They wrap up the weekend against the Seattle Pacific Falcons on Saturday, Feburary 14