ELLENSBURG — The Central Washington Wildcats womens basketball team (23-5) fell short 58-56 to Northwest Nazarene University in a competitive battle to conclude their regular season. Despite the loss, Head Coach Randi Richardson is confident her team will bounce back, according to a statement from CWU Athletics.   

“We built all year to have a moment like this, and it was a great game. Credit to NNU for making some big plays down the stretch and things didn't fall for us. This moment doesn't define this team, and there is more season to be played. I love our seniors and I'm proud of who they have been in their time as Wildcats. Next week we will respond,” she said.   

According to CWU Athletics, the Wildcats took the lead early as Asher Cai, Fiona Snashall and Annalee Coronado got things going on offense. The 'Cats took the 18-9 lead after the first 10 minutes.  

Cai hit a jumper to begin the second quarter which then saw the two teams trade buckets for most of the quarter. Cai drained a free-throw, but Trinidie Nichols hit a layup before the halftime break to make it a 27-23 CWU lead.   

The teams exchanged a pair of buckets to start the third quarter, but a three from Coronado followed by an and-one from Cai made it a 39-29 CWU lead. The teams continued to go back-and-forth, but NNU made it a one-possession lead for the 'Cats, 44-41.   

The two teams exchanged a pair of buckets, but a pair of free-throws by Wells followed by a layup from Bruegman saw the Nighthawks take the 53-48 lead. Coronado answered with three backed by a layup from Cai to tie things up with 3:18 left in the game.  

A last-second three by Kendall Clark proved to be the difference as the Nighthawks hit a pair of free throws down the stretch to take the 58-56 victory. 

The Wildcats turn their sights to the postseason as they earned a bye in the first round of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference tournament as the second seed. After winning a tiebreaker over Saint Martin’s, they sit behind Western Washington in the GNAC. They will play the winner of Montana State Billings vs Saint Martin’s at noon Friday.   

Richardson said in a previous interview that her team has responded to the heightened level of conference play in the latter half of the season.   

“Teams have really stepped up and have challenged us in new ways, and our team has had the opportunity to be challenged and grow, which we need going into postseason. We're excited to put that growth on the floor and go out and finish strong now,” she said.   

Richardson is confident her team has one of the top defenses during her tenure, she said. Their mindset is to make their opponents earn every point.   

“Our whole thing is we're going to make you work for what you get, and we're going to force you into some contested shots and make you take shots that aren't your number one look,” she said.   

Another element of the team is that each player has the capability to step up for the group. Cai leads the team in scoring at 23 points per game, on average. Right behind her are Sims (13) and Snashall (10). The Wildcats are deep on offense, as Coronado finished with 18 points and made four threes against NNU.  

Having multiple players capable of taking over a game at any given time is crucial to success in the GNAC, the coach said.   

“You can't just win a conference championship with one player. Great teams win conference championships with great players all over the floor,” Richardson said. “I think a big key to our success is our points in the paint when we win games. Being able to dominate the paint offensively is a big key, and (Sims and Snashall) have played a critical part in that.”   

Richardson said she feels a target has now been put on their backs as the team has improved. She credits her senior group of Cai, Lylah Spring and Aliyah Finch for playing an essential role in elevating their program to that level.   

Going from the hunter to the hunted has meant the Wildcats get each team's biggest effort, Richardson said.   

“They play with nothing to lose when they play you,” she said.   

In a competitive league, Richardson is happy with how her players have responded. Instead of seeing it as a burden, they approach it as an opportunity to improve.   

“You're going to get everybody's best, and you see it as an opportunity, not a burden, and if we match that, we're only going to improve ourselves and become an even more dominant team than what we already were,” she said.   

BOX SCORE:   

NNU: 9-14-18-17: 58  

CWU: 18-9-17-12: 56 

The Central Washington bench erupts after a big play against Western Washington earlier this season. The Wildcats are the second seed and will receive a bye in the first round of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

    Capri Sims (13) posts up against a California State LA defender earlier this season. Head Coach Randi Richardson is confident her team will bounce back after a narrow loss in their regular season finale.
  

The Wildcats’ Asher Cai (21) takes a free throw shot during their game against the University of Mary earlier this season.