ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington University Head Women's Basketball Coach Randi Richardson is excited to announce the addition of Wildcat Women's Basketball alumni and Australian Professional Women's Basketball Player Samantha Bowman as the next Assistant Coach for the CWU Women's Basketball Team.
 
"I's very exciting to have Sam join our staff," Richardson said. "She has a vast and great knowledge of the game, high expectations, and a drive and determination that is rare which has always led to her finding success in whatever she does. That will be no different in this new role and I'm excited for our players and program to be the beneficiaries of that work ethic, drive, and determination. She has an investment, passion, and familiarity with our program in being one of the most decorated CWU WBB alumni in program history that will make this transition special and seamless as we strive to continue to elevate and push our program forward to new heights. I'm excited to have Sam officially back in the program and to work alongside her."
 
Bowman rejoins the Women's Basketball Team after spending this summer with the Casey Cavaliers of the NBL1 South in Australia where she's currently averaging 14.75 points per game, 2.5 assists per game, 14 rebounds per game, one block per game, and 1.13 steals per game. She spent this past fall as an Assistant Coach with the CWU Women's Soccer Team where she helped the 'Cats to a three-win improvement overall and a two-win improvement in GNAC play which marks the best record for the program since the 2021 season.
 
Bowman spent the previous season in Australia with the Townsville Flames where she averaged 19.27 points per game, 12.27 rebounds per game, 4.4 assists per game, 0.8 blocks per game, and 2.27 steals per game in 15 contests. She started out her NBL1 career and spent her first two seasons with the Rockhampton Cyclones where she played in a total of 44 games where she averaged 20.22 and 19.81 points per game, 15.52 and 11.43 rebounds per game, 0.91 and 0.67 blocks per game, 3.26 and 2.86 assists per game, and 1.65 and 2.24 steals per game.
 
"I am incredibly grateful to be stepping into this new role in a program that has meant so much to me throughout my time at CWU," Bowman said. "After spending five years here as a player and continuing to support and aid any and all of our other programs, this feels truly special and something I've worked toward for a long time. CWU has always felt like home to me, and I'm honored to now have the opportunity to give back to a program and community that has given me so much. I'm excited to learn, grow, and help continue the success and culture that makes this place so special. GO CATS!!"
 
Bowman played for the Wildcat Women's Basketball Team from 2018 through 2023. She finished her career averaging 13.6 points per game, 10.2 rebounds per game, two assists per game, and totaled 167 blocks and 129 steals. She finished her career shooting 54.1 percent from the floor, 31.6 percent from three, and 72.2 percent at the free-throw line in 120 played games in which she started 78.
 
She is the GNAC leader in career rebounds, finishing with 1,219 rebounds while finishing with 1,632 career points. She also earned nine GNAC Player of the Week honors which is another GNAC record. She also earned two-straight NCAA Statistical Champion honors in both double-doubles and rebounding. The accolades didn't stop there as she was the GNAC Player of the Year and the D2CCA Roy Lenz National Player of the Year while adding a D2CCA West Region Player of the Year honors. She added two First Team All-GNAC honors, WBCA, World Exposure Report, and D2CCA First Team All-American honors.