Wildcats earn top seed in NCAA West to host regionals
CALEB PEREZ | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 months, 4 weeks AGO
Kayla Thornton from the Wildcats sprints toward the basket while evading a Yellowjackets defender during the GNAC tournament semifinals. CWU and MSUB are set to face again in the NCAA Division II West Region Tournament.
COURTESY PHOTO/BEN MAGNUS/WWU ATHLETICS
BELLINGHAM — The Central Washington University Wildcats (23-6) concluded their run in the GNAC Tournament Friday during the semifinal round when they fell 74-79 to the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets (19-14). Despite the loss, CWU earned the top seed in the 2026 NCAA Division II West Region Tournament.
“Our team showed a lot of fight and played hard,” said CWU Head Coach Randi Richardson. “I’m so proud of our fight and effort, but we didn’t have enough execution in finishing possessions with rebounds, making paint shots and limiting our fouls. Credit to MSUB, they played a great game and never let us pull ahead.”
The Yellowjackets started strong, outscoring the Wildcats in the first quarter of the semifinal matchup. CWU cut into Montana’s lead in the second quarter, which was the highest scoring quarter for both teams, and went into half with the Wildcats down 40-41.
Central was persistent in the second half, playing with high intensity and keeping the score close. The Yellowjackets stayed just ahead in the final two quarters of the game, leading to the Wildcats falling by just five.
Annalee Coronado of the Wildcats led the team on offense with 24 points scored while adding two rebounds, three assists and a steal. CWU's Kayla Thornton had a new career high with 19 points scored with four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Central Washington’s Asher Kai added on 14 points with four rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal and Capri Sims put up 12 points, nine rebounds and two assists. The Wildcats also shot 35.7% from the floor and from three while going 14-14 at the free throw line.
With the GNAC tourney concluding, the Wildcats turn their attention toward the NCAA Division II West Region Tournament. For the first time in program history, the CWU Women’s Basketball Team will be hosting after earning the number one seed.
Under Richardson, the Wildcats have now advanced to the NCAA Tournament four times with all four appearances coming in the last five seasons. Their first NCAA Tournament win came in 2022 and made history last season by making it to the program’s first-ever Sweet 16.
The 2026 appearance will mark the seventh CWU appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
The Wildcats are set to face off against the Yellowjackets in the first round of the NCAA tourney. Montana State Billings is coming off their victory in the GNAC championships against Western Washington as they head into regionals as the eighth seed.
The Wildcats and Yellowjackets face off in Ellensburg on Friday at 5 p.m. in the first round of the NCAA West Region Tournament.
BOX SCORE
MSTB: 16-25-21-17: 79
CWU: 11-29-19-15: 74
ARTICLES BY CALEB PEREZ
Mavs claim District 5 swim and dive title
MOSES LAKE — The series of successful meets this season fully paid off for the Moses Lake Mavericks girls swim team over the weekend as the girls claimed the District 5 title. By the end of Saturday, the Mavs won the district meet with a score of 466 to Wenatchee's 449. "Just as we expected with Wenatchee, it was close all the way to the end. Could have gone either way, but it went our way," said Mavs Head Coach Tony Preston. "The girls were super excited to get their district championship."
Tigers qualify both boys and girls teams to state
EPHRATA — The Ephrata Tigers Cross Country team continued their successful season in the District 5 and 6 Championships Saturday afternoon. Both the boys and girls had strong races to qualify for state with the boys taking third and the girls taking second. Tigers Head Coach Lyndsy Roberts said because of their high ranking all season the girls team set their sights high on the district meet. Heading into Saturday, they knew their toughest challenge would be against Ellensburg, who has been ranked second in the state all season.
Knights battle into district championships
ROYAL CITY — The second seeded Royal Knights (16-2-1) battled in a tight matchup against the third seeded Naches Valley Saturday afternoon in the district semifinals. Both teams put forward a strong effort, with the Knights securing a 1-0 victory. "We were all putting our heart out in this game and trying our best because we have a really good team this year," said Knights junior Sofia Villafana. "We were just giving it our all." The tone of the game was set from the very start as Royal and Naches Valley went back and forth on their attack. While the Knights controlled the ball for most of the first half, Naches Valley's defense kept things in check.