Women's Basketball

Wildcats are Indeed Feeling Sweet

CARSON, Calif. – The Central Washington University Women's Basketball Team will travel to their first ever sweet 16 after winning the 'Battle of the Wildcats' over Chico State in the second round of the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Tournament Saturday evening. Sunny Huerta led all scores in the game with 27 points. 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 
  • Final: #6 Central Washington (79), #7 Chico State (73)
  • Records: CWU (23-7), CHICO (24-8)
  • Location: Torodome, Carson, Calif. 
 
QUOTING CWU HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH RANDI RICHARDSON:
 
"I'm very happy for our team to get this win. Chico played a great game and never let us pull away. I was pleased with our team's composure in the last couple of minutes to get stops and knock down some critical free-throw to pull this one out. We are excited to play in the regional championship. Our group has bought into the process this year and has grown tremendously. I'm excited for Monday to go out and compete."

HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
  • Central Washington opened the scoring with back-to-back threes by Huerta and Asher Cai to make it 6-0 CWU with 7:25 left in the first. 
  • Chico State came roaring back with five-straight points but was answered by a three from Annalee Coronado to make it 9-5 CWU. 
  • A pair of free-throws by Cai and a layup by Coronado put CWU up six, 13-7, but a quick 7-2 run by Chico State made it a 15-14 CWU lead. 
  • A three from Malia Smith put the 'Cats up 21-14, but Chico State used two quick buckets to end the first quarter with CWU leading 21-18. 
  • Rinse and repeat for Huerta to start the second quarter drilling a three to make it 24-18 CWU. 
  • Chico State cut it down to a two-point game before back-to-back threes by Cai and Huerta again put the crimson and black up 30-22 with 6:58 left in the quarter. 
  • A layup by Coronado followed by a three from Huerta made it a 36-24 lead for Central Washington with 4:20 left, but Chico State responded with 12-straight points to go into halftime tied at 36 all. 
  • Chico State earned the first bucket out of halftime to take their first lead, but Huerta quickly responded with a three to make it 39-38 CWU. 
  • A jumper by Huerta and a three by Capri Sims saw the 'Cats lead back up to six, 44-38 with 8:31 left in the third. 
  • The two teams exchanged buckets as CWU had a response for Chico every time they got close as CWU lead 60-58 heading into the final 10 minutes. 
  • A layup by Cai and the and-one Sims from Sims made it a 65-58 CWU lead with 8:54 left in the game. 
  • A jumper from Cai and back-to-back threes by Smith and Shelby Blodgett made it a 73-60 crimson and black lead with 5:41 left. 
  • Chico State came clawing back again with 10-straight points to make it a one possession game, 73-70 in favor of CWU with 1:45 left. 
  • A pair of free-throws by Coronado was answered by the and-one from Chico but four free-throws and stout defense helped the 'Cats to the 79-73 victory. 
 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 
  • Huerta paved the way with 27 points to pair with six rebounds, one block, one steal, and a team-high seven assists. 
  • Cai added 19 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and one block. 
  • Coronado led the bench unit with 12 points, two rebounds, one assist, and one block. 
  • Sims had another double-double finishing with 10 points and 12 rebounds adding two assists, one block, and one steal. 
  • Smith had six points, five rebounds, and one steal while Blodgett had three points, three rebounds, and three assists. 
  • Aliyah Finch tacked on two points and three rebounds while Keira Marsh had one rebound. 
  • CWU finished the game shooting 43.3 percent (26-60) from the floor, 46.7 percent (14-30) from three, and 86.7 percent (13-15) at the free-throw line. 
  • Chico State shot 37.3 percent (28-75) from the floor, 28.6 percent (4-14) from three, and 86.7 percent (13-15) at the free-throw line. 
  • Chico won the rebound battle 47-36. 
 
SERIES HISTORY:
 
  • This was the third-ever meeting between the two squads with both previous matchups happening in 1997. 
  • Central Washington leads the all-time series 2-1. 
  • Both CWU wins came in neutral site games. 
 
UP NEXT:
 
  • The Wildcats will face the top-seeded and hosting Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros on Monday at 7:00 p.m. from inside the Torodome for a spot in the elite eight.