March 4, 2002
Contact: Roy Elia (509-963-1485/fax 509-963-2351/e-mail: sid@cwu.edu)
ELLENSBURG, Wash. - This past weekend provided many ups and downs for Central
Washington University's athletic teams. Here is a sample.
Women's Basketball
An outstanding season came to a disappointing end Saturday night in
Seattle's Royal Brougham Pavilion as the Wildcats dropped a 65-53 decision
to Seattle Pacific. The two teams ended in a second-place tie in the Great
Northwest Athletic Conference behind league champion Western Washington.
Center Rose Shaw (Sr., Bellevue-Interlake) led the 'Cats with 15 points
and 12 rebounds, her ninth double-double of the season.
Adding to Central's disappointment was the announcement Sunday night
that it was not selected to participate in the NCAA Division II West
Regional tournament later this week in Pomona, California.
"I feel real sad for the seniors, because they were expecting to go,"
Central head coach Jeff Whitney said. "It was a real letdown, and the
coaching staff feels real bad for them."
Central ended the season 14-4 in the conference and 20-5 overall, its
second consecutive 20-win season.
Men's Basketball
Senior forward Justin Thompson (Chehalis-W.F. West/Lower Columbia) led
four players in double figures with 23 points in his CWU finale Saturday
night as the Wildcats routed Saint Martin's 88-62 Saturday night in the SMC
Pavilion.
Central, which won six of its last seven games, ended the year in sole
possession of fourth place in the GNAC with a 9-9 mark and finished 16-10
overall.
Baseball
CWU won three of four games, splitting at Pacific Lutheran (3-7, 9-4)
Saturday and sweeping Puget Sound (6-5, 10-8) Sunday in its home openers.
In its Sunday sweep, Central second baseman Anthony Rodriguez (Jr.,
Silverdale-Central Kitsap/Olympic) stroked four hits on the day, including a
double in game one and an RBI triple in the nightcap.
Central improved its record to 5-4 and competes in the Mesa St. (Colorado)
tournament this weekend.
Softball
The Wildcats won two of six games at their annual fastpitch invitational
at Richland's Columbia Playfields.
CWU's victories came against Western Oregon (6-5) Friday and Whitworth
(12-4) Saturday.
In the win over WOU, Central tallied three runs in the seventh inning,
the last scoring on a bunt single by Kelly Reed (Sr., Roy-Bethel).
Against Whitworth, Marie Mitchell (Jr., Kent-Kentlake/Fordham) had three
RBI and pitcher Stephanie Hogan (Jr., Richland-Hanford/CBC) pitched four
solid innings for the victory.
Central plays three twin bills this week. It hosts Eastern Oregon
Tuesday, Western Washington Friday and travels to Seattle University
Saturday.
