ELLENSBURG, Wash. – A well-matched game early eventually got away from the Evergreen Geoducks as they fell to the Central Washington Wildcats, 79-57, in a non-conference women’s basketball game on Friday night at Nicholson Pavilion in Ellensburg, Wash.  The game was an exhibition for Evergreen and a counting game for Central Washington.

The score stayed early as the teams exchanged leads for much of the opening period.  Whit the scored tied at 23-23 with 3:06 left to play, the Wildcats went on an 8-0 run but the Geoducks fought back, pulling within four points at halftime, down 33-29.

Evergreen was led in the first half by nine points from junior Danielle Swain (Rainier, Wash./Black Hills HS).  As a team, the Geoducks were 12-of-28 from the field for 42.9% as well at five-of-six from the charity stripe.

After Central pulled ahead by eight early in the second half, Evergreen fought back again, getting back within one point with 15:00 left to play.  The ‘Cats went back on the prowl, using a 10-0 run to push the lead into double-digits nearing the midpoint of the half.  CWU continued to push the lead as the game progressed, eventually earning the 79-57 win.

Swain led the way with 28 points on the game, including 19 in the second half.  Sophomore Sadee Jones (Belfair, Wash./North Mason HS) added nine points in the losing effort.  The Geoducks outrebounded CWU, 42-30, on the game but made just 24-of-62 attempts for 38.7%.

Central Washington was led by 19 points from Jessica VanDyke.  Leslie Stillar added 16 points in the win while Shayla Ball finished with 11 points on the night.  The Wildcats were helped by 13-of-24 shooting from behind the arc, using the extra points to slip past the Geoducks.

The Geoducks resume Cascade Conference play on Monday evening when they play host to Corban.  Tip with the Warriors is set for 5:30 p.m. at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

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