Wildcats Pull Away From WOU Women, 78-57

Early second half CWU run closes the door for Western Oregon.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Central Washington controlled the backboards and shut down Western Oregon early in the second half to cruise to a 78-57 women’s basketball win on Saturday night at the Nicholson Pavilion in Ellensburg.

The Wildcats held WOU to just two points in the first eight minutes of the second half, outscoring the Wolves 17-2 in the opening moments after intermission.

CWU also had a big rebound advantage (44-35) in improving to 17-8 on the season and to 7-7 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

Western Oregon fell to 3-22 on the year and is now 2-12 in the GNAC.

Junior post Jodie Wilson had a career high 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Wolves, and Leada Berkey, the GNAC’s leading scorer had 22.

Hanna Hull led a balanced Central attack with 13 points, while Brandie Bounds and Laura Wright added 11 each.

The Wolves went on a 12-2 run early in the first half to take a 14-8 lead, but that would be the highlight for the visitors.

But CWU promptly went on a 7-0 run of its own to take a 15-14 margin, and they would never trail again.

The Wildcats’ burst out of the locker room put the game away early in the second half.

CWU would lead by as many as 21 points, although the Wolves would cut that margin to 10 with under eight minutes to play.

Western Oregon will now return home for its final two games of the 2006-07 season, hosting Alaska Fairbanks on Thursday (5:30 PM) and Alaska Anchorage on Saturday (5:00 PM).

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