ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Women's Basketball will open postseason play on Friday in the GNAC Tournament when they play the winner of the third seeded Saint Martin's Saints and the sixth seeded Montana State Billings Yellowjackets.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Friday, March 6
#2 Central Washington vs. Winner of #3 Saint Martin's & #6 Montana State Billings
Noon
WECU Court at Carver Gym
Bellingham, Wash.
WATCH:
HERE
LIVE STATS:
HERE
TICKETS:
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TOURNAMENT CENTRAL:
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QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON:
"It's playoff season and everyone is 0-0. Right now, our team's focus is one game at a time and becoming 1-0 after Friday."
THE GNAC TOURNAMENT:
The Wildcats concluded the season tied for second in the GNAC with a 14-4 record with Saint Martin's, however due to the season sweep of the Saints the 'Cats took the tiebreaker and the second seed in the GNAC Tournament.
Earning the top seed was the GNAC regular season champions, the hosting Western Washington Vikings who finished with a 15-3 record. The 'Cats and Vikings split in the regular season with each team winning in their respective gyms. The third-seeded Saints tied with CWU for second in the conference with a 14-4 record but the 'Cats earned a pair of gritty, tough victories over the Saints in the two conference clashes this season. Northwest Nazarene came in fourth with a 12-6 record with the 'Cats splitting with the Nighthawks, each team winning on the road. Montana State Billings and Western Oregon tied for fifth with a 9-9 record, but the Wolves took the tiebreaker for the fifth seed in the tournament which slots the Yellowjackets in the sixth seed. The 'Cats and Wolves split on the season with each team winning at home but the 'Cats earned the regular season sweep over the 'Jackets with
Asher Cai breaking the GNAC three-point record at MSUB in January.
SCOUTING THE #3 SAINTS:
Saint Martin's is 18-9 on the season. The 'Cats and Saints last met two weeks ago on February 21 in Lacey where the 'Cats fended off a late rally from SMU to win 55-49. The Saints then went on the road and earned a weekend sweep in Alaska, first defeating Alaska Fairbanks 99-59 before defeating Alaska Anchorage 66-51. SMU earned a season sweep over their first-round opponents, first defeating MSUB 63-57 at home before taking down the 'Jackets 68-47 on the road.
The Saints average 64.3 points per game while giving up 55 points to their opponents. They average 38.3 percent from the floor, 32.2 percent from three, and 75.9 percent at the free-throw line. Opponents are averaging 38.3 percent from the floor, 27.8 percent from three, and 63.2 percent at the free-throw line. The Saints outrebound their opponents by a 35.7 to 34.4 margin per game. SMU dishes out 14.8 assists per game compared to the 11.1 assists their opponents dish out. The Saints don't turn the ball over often, only 13.3 times a game but force 17.7 turnovers from their opponents. Of those 17.7 turnovers they force, 9.1 come as steals for the Saints while their opponents steal the ball away 6.8 times a game. SMU has 2.4 blocks a game while their opponents block the ball 4.3 times a game.
Jada Travis leads the Saints at 13.3 points per game while Avery Oaster, Kiana Rios, and Laiken Hill all add double-digits per game at 12.6, 12.1, and 10.2 points per game, respectfully. Oaster leads the Saints with 8.2 rebounds per game and 32 blocks. Travis accounts for the most assists with 89 and steals with 52 on the season.
SCOUTING THE #6 YELLOWJACKETS:
Montana State Billings is 17-14 on the season. The last time that the 'Cats and 'Jackets met was on February 12 in Ellensburg where the 'Cats grinded out a 73-65 overtime victory. Since then the 'Jackets suffered a 71-44 setback at Northwest Nazarene before heading home for a weekend sweep over the Alaska schools, first a 65-53 victory over Alaska Anchorage before defeating Alaska Fairbanks 80-53. Last weekend the 'Jackets headed on the road and earned a split, first defeating Simon Fraser 88-52 before falling to Western Washington 78-55.
MSUB averages 65.3 points per game while giving up 61.3 points to their opponents. They average 38.3 percent from the floor, 29.6 percent from three, and 71.2 percent at the free-throw line while opponents average 37.5 percent from the floor, 28.6 percent from three, and 76.2 percent at the free-throw line. The 'Jackets outrebound their opponents by a margin of 41.3 to 35.7 per game. MSUB contributes more assists than their opponents by a 14 to 12.4 margin per game. MSUB commits 14.2 turnovers per game but forces their opponents to commit 15.1 turnovers a game. Of those 15.1 turnovers they force, 8.4 come as steals for the Yellowjackets while their opponents steal the ball away 7.7 times a contest. The Yellowjackets block their opponents 3.6 times a game while opponents earn 3.5 blocks a game.
Cassie Chesnut, the GNAC Freshman of the Year, leads the charge with 12.9 points per game while grabbing 8.6 boards, 47 steals, and has 43 blocks to her name this season. Tailey Harris and Kyla Momberg are second and third in scoring for MSUB, averaging 9.7 and 9.5 points per game. Harris leads MSUB with 95 assists this season.
UP NEXT:
With a win, the Wildcats will head to the GNAC Championship game where they would face the winner of Western Washington and whoever wins between fourth-seeded Northwest Nazarene and fifth-seeded Western Oregon. If the 'Cats make it to the GNAC Championship game, that would be held on Saturday, March 7 at 5:00 p.m. in Bellingham. Following the GNAC Tournament, the 'Cats will turn their attention to the NCAA West Region Tournament which will be held from Friday, March 13 through Monday, March 16 at a site to be determined.
