Jan. 5, 2018
CWU Women's Basketball Downs Saint Martin's, 49-46
The Central Washington University Women's Basketball team finished a perfect 10-for-10 from the charity stripe as the Wildcats held on for a 49-46 victory over Saint Martin's University in their first Great Northwest Athletic Conference game of the 2018 calendar year.
The Wildcats improve to 7-6 on the season and 3-2 in GNAC play, while Saint Martin's falls to 5-8 overall and 1-4 in GNAC competition.
"Credit to Saint Martin's and the defensive adjustments they made at half," CWU Head Coach Randi Richardson-Thornley said. "I'm proud of our girls not hanging their heads when shots didn't fall or things didn't go their way. I am very pleased with our defensive effort tonight and our ability to knock down free throws."
Jasmin Edwards led the offense for the Wildcats, finishing with 13 points. Sadie Mensing also broke into double digits, scoring 11 points and adding seven rebounds. The Wildcats' defense recorded eight steals and held the Saints to a 1-for-11 mark from beyond the arc.
After a 19-16 first quarter, the Wildcats dominated in the second period. After an early bucket for the Saints, Sadie Mensing drained a three setting the score at 21-18. In the opening five minutes of the quarter, the Wildcats outscored Saint Martin's 12-4. Central held the Saints scoreless for a pair of two-minute intervals, ensuring the Saints failed to reach 10 points for the quarter and helped extend the Wildcats' lead heading into half at 32-22.
Taylor Baird knocked down a pair of free throws under a minute into the third quarter for a 34-22 advantage. A six-point swing from the Saints cut the Wildcats' deficit in half, 35-30, before a jumper from Rachel Lorentson ended the run.
With time dwindling and the score close, both teams jostled for momentum in the third quarter's final stretch. Central's lead dipped to six, 41-35, with under 30 seconds to play in the third, but Beverly Verduin had the final word as she sunk a jumper for a 43-35 lead at the third's final buzzer.
The Saints battled in an attempt to level the score in the final stanza, but the Wildcats gave them no room to maneuver. Each time the Saints knocked down a shot, the Wildcats did the same. With two minutes to play, the Saints pushed the Wildcats' lead to four, 49-45. A free throw from Makenna Schultz gave the Saints a one-possession game with time left on the clock, but the only offensive output the Saints managed in the final minute was a free throw as the Wildcats hung on 49-46.
Central Washington is back in action on Saturday (Jan. 6) as the Wildcats take on Seattle Pacific University in Seattle. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Brougham Pavilion.