Central Routs Willamette in Battle of 'Cats, 90-47

December 21, 2003

ELLENSBURG, Wash.-- Senior point guard Angela Jensen (Bellingham, Wash./Sehome HS) scored 19 points to lead a balanced attack as the Central Washington women's basketball team cruised to a 90-47 non-conference women's basketball victory over Willamette University on Dec.,21 at Nicholson Pavilion.

Jensen, who was also one of three Wildcats with a game-high five assists, made six-of-eight field goal attempts including all three from three-point range.

Central Washington (5-3) built a 15-2 lead in the first 5:27 of the game. The lead reached 20 points (31-10) at the 6:09 mark of the first half, and the Wildcats held a 45-19 halftime advantage. Central eventually charted its largest lead of the game at the final buzzer, posting its largest margin of victory since Dec. 17, 2001, when CWU defeated Western New Mexico 91-37.

Joining Jensen in double figures for CWU were junior Loni Ainslie (Graham, Wash./Bethel HS) and freshman Laura Wright (Longview, Wash./Mark Morris HS). Ainslie scored 15 points on five three-point field goals - spearheading a Wildcat long-distance attack that recorded a season-best 14 treys. Wright, a 6-3 post player, reached double figures in scoring for the fifth straight game. Senior Kelsey Ellis (Langley, Wash./South Whidbey HS) and junior Nicole Rudy (Elma, Wash.) each added nine points for the Wildcats.

Willamette senior Simmie Muth led the Bearcats (3-5) with 18 points on eight-of-16 shooting. Fellow starters Sarah O'Brien and Megan Scheelar each scored seven for the Bearcats, who compete as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Northwest Conference.

Central Washington's next competition will be on Monday, Dec. 29, in tournament action at the 22nd Annual UCSD Doubletree Invitational at La Jolla, Calif. The Wildcats open the tournament against Montana State-Billings before facing host UC San Diego the following evening. CWU returns home to Nicholson Pavilion on Jan. 8 as it takes on Seattle University.