Box score, play-by-play (HTML)
 
ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Cici West and Jaylee Albert both came up big. And the Seattle Pacific Falcons came up with a big comeback.
 
But that comeback wasn't quite big enough.

​​​​​West tied her career high of 18 rebounds, to go along with 14 points, and Albert dished a career-best 10 assists, but SPU's rally from a 21-point third-quarter deficit against Central Washington ultimately fell short on Saturday night, as the Wildcats pulled out a 77-70 victory.
 
The Falcons (4-9, 3-3 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) needed just 7 minutes, 52 seconds in Nicholson Pavilion to come from 60-39 down with 1:57 left in the third quarter to just four behind at 65-61 with 4:05 left in the fourth.
 
"We had some young players come in and compete, and that's a great sign," head coach Mike Simonson said. "In that fourth quarter, we finally had a group out there that said, 'No more,' and really just fought back and boxed out and got rebounds and was a very good transition team."
 
From there, Central (10-3, 5-1 GNAC) went on a 7-1 during the next two minutes, stretching its advantage back to 10 at 72-62 with just 2:01 remaining. The Falcons never came closer than six after that.
 
"We challenged our team that we needed to bring energy," Simonson said. "There were stretches in the second quarter that mimicked how we played in the fourth, and we got it down to single digits by halftime (39-32), and I thought we were in position to make it a game. We did not start the third quarter well (Central scored the first eight points), and that was disappointing.
 
"Then we just finally decided to be ourselves and play SPU basketball."
 

Redshir

t senior forward West matched the 18 rebounds she grabbed against Idaho State on Jan. 30, 2016 while playing for Portland State. Her previous best for SPU was 12, in two games this year.
 
The last Falcon with more than 15 in a game was Julia Haining's 16 against Humboldt State on Nov. 10, 2017.
 
"Cici was relentless – she's the best rebounder in the conference and proves it night in and night out," Simonson said. "Today, she was at a different level."
 
 

Senior guard Albert set a career assists high for the second time in less than a month. She had seven at Cal State Los Angeles on Dec. 17. She is the first Falcon with double-digit assists since Maddie Maloney handed out 10 on Jan. 1, 2011 against Alaska Fairbanks.
 
Along with her 12 points, Albert recorded her first collegiate double-double.
 
"Tonight is the best she has led our team from the point guard position all year," Simonson said. "For her to stay the course, stay aggressive, focus on defense, and focus on being a leader, I was very proud of her."
 
Falcons freshman guard Ashley Alter scored eight of her 10 points during SPU's 22-5 run that cut the deficit to 65-61. Senior guard had six of her 13 points during that rally. West, Albert, Natalie Hoff, and Hailee Bennett also chipped in points.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
-- Seattle Pacific wound up with one more field goal for the game (25-24). But in a foul-filled contest (21 for each team), Central Washington had an edge at the free throw line, hitting 23 of 29. The Falcons drained 16 of 24.
-- West and Central's Kassidy Malcolm showed why they're the top two rebounders in the GNAC. While West had her 18 (split evenly between the offensive and defensive glass), Malcolm also got into double digits with 11.
-- West now has five double-doubles for the season.
-- Saturday's result makes it seven straight games in Nicholson Pavilion that have been decided by single digits. The Falcons won the first five; the Wildcats have taken the last two.
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UP NEXT
Having played six straight road games since their last home contest on Dec. 1, SPU returns to Brougham Pavilion this coming week, with Western Washington visiting on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. and Simon Fraser coming to town on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
 
 
NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019
Nicholson Pavilion / Ellensburg, Wash.
 
Central Washington 77, Seattle Pacific 70
 
SEATTLE PACIFIC (4-9, 3-3 GNAC)
West 5-16 4-7 14, Evans 4-9 3-3 13, Albert 4-8 3-4 12, Alter 4-8 2-2 10, Bennett 3-6 2-2 8, Rataushk 3-4 1-2 7, Hoff 1-3 1-4 3, Hingston 1-5 0-0 3, Skidmore 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-60 16-24 70.
 
CENTRAL WASHINGTON (10-3, 5-1 GNAC)
Alexis Pana 4-10 4-4 14, Richardson 3-7 7-8 13, Mensing 3-8 5-7 12, Shaw 3-12 2-2 9, Flores 3-12 2-2 8, Phiakhamngon 2-6 2-2 8, Bowman 3-3 1-2 7, Malcolm 3-6 0-2 6, Aliyah Pana 0-0 0-0 0, Lancaster 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-64 23-29 77.
 
Seattle Pacific                     17           15           13           25           -- 70
Central Washington           19           20           23           15           -- 77
 
3-point goals – SPU 4-13 (Evans 2-5, Hingston 1-4, Albert 1-2, Bennett 0-2), CWU 6-27 (Phiakhamngon 2-4, Alexis Pana 2-5, Shaw 1-9, Mensing 1-1, Flores 0-7, Richardson 0-1). Fouled out – None. Rebounds – SPU 40 (West 18), CWU 40 (Malcolm 11). Assists – SPU 17 (Albert 10), CWU 16 (Malcolm 4, Alexis Pana 4). Turnovers – SPU 18, CWU 13. Total fouls – SPU 21, CWU 21. Technical fouls – None. Attendance – 1,011.
 
 
Next game
Western Washington at Seattle Pacific
Thursday, Jan. 17    7:00 p.m.
Brougham Pavilion / Seattle, Wash.