CWU men’s and women’s basketball teams faced a heavy schedule of games last week at Nicholson Pavilion.

The CWU women’s team (16-5) tipped off the first of the double headers on Feb. 10 against visiting Simon Fraser University (SFU) (8-11) The Wildcats came out on top beating SFU 92-69. The win improved CWU’s Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) record to 9-3 overall as well as moving them up into the second place spot in the GNAC standings. 

Redshirt senior Kassidy Malcolm led the team in scoring with 27 points, shooting 9-15 (3-3 from three). Redshirt senior Kizzah Maltezo was second in scoring with 18 points shooting 4-11, all four shots coming from behind the three point line. Redshirt junior Samantha Bowman led the team in rebounds with 17.  

The team capped off the win by shooting 42.2% (27-64) from the field and an efficient 42.4% (14-33) from three point range. The defense held SFU to 38.6% (27-70) from the field and 24.1% (7-29) from the three-point line as well as only allowing nine points in the second quarter. 

After the women’s victory over SFU, the CWU men’s team (13-6) had a come from behind win against University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) (7-11) outscoring them 76-73. 

CWU trailed by four points heading into halftime and continued to trail until there was two minutes left in game. With 1:37 left on the clock in the second half, CWU took the lead with a score of 72-70 and added four more points to finish the game. 

Freshman Colby Gennett, senior Xavier Smith, junior Matt Poquette, senior Amari Stafford and senior David Thompson all scored double digit points for CWU. 

Gennett led the team in scoring with 18 points, shooting 7-10 from the field (2-4 from three). Smith finished right behind Gannett in scoring with 17 points. Smith shot 6-18 from the field and led the team in free throws shooting 4-4. 

The men’s team shot 47.6% (30-63) from the field and 33.3% (7-21) from the three-point line. CWU was very efficient at the free throw line shooting 90% (9-10) as well rebounding with a total of 39. 

On Saturday Feb. 12, CWU women’s team lost a close one to rival school Western Washington University (WWU). CWU fell short with a score of 74-72.

Kassidy Malcolm continued to lead the team in scoring with 23 points shooting 9-19 from the field as well as (3-6 from three). Kizzah Maltezo was second behind Malcolm in scoring with 17 points. Samantha Bowman once again led the team in rebounds with 14.

CWU struggled defensively, allowing 42 points in the paint as well as 11 points off turnovers. WWU managed to outshot CWU 43.5% (30-69) to 39.4% (28-71). 

After the women’s basketball’s close game, the men’s team held on to secure a win in overtime against Alaska Anchorage University (AAU) with a score of 81-80.  

The men faced a seven point deficit going into the half with a score of 41-34. The men’s team played from behind the entire second half, managing to tie the game 70-70. Xavier Smith hit a three pointer with 14 seconds left to tie it up and force overtime. The team managed to outscore AAU 11-10 in overtime, capping off the night with a win. 

Smith led the team in scoring with 26 points. Smith shot 10-19 (2-4 from three) and hit all four of his free throws. Senior David Thompson was second in scoring with 17 points and Gennett led the team in rebounds with 10.

As a team, CWU shot an efficient 48.5% (32-66) from the field. CWU managed to score 34 points in the paint and outscored AAU on fastbreak points 13-5.  

CWU men’s and women’s basketball will travel to Monmouth, Oregon to play Western Oregon University on Feb. 17.