After the Wildcat’s women’s basketball team beat rival Western Washington University (WWU) 67-56 earlier this season, it gave them the opportunity to sweep WWU in the regular season for the first time in their programs history, but they fell seven points short.

The win brings WWU’s overall record to 15-6 and 11-2 in GNAC play and drops Central to 15-6 and 8-5 GNAC in play

“We came up short, but it’s just motivation for if we play them again,” senior forward Jasmin Edwards said.

The game was close through the entire 40 minutes with six-lead changes and five ties. But WWU had the lead for over 36 minutes of the game with their largest lead being eight points.

Down by three late in the third quarter, freshman guard Mandy Steward hit a 3-pointer to send the game to a fourth quarter tied at 44.

Senior center Alexis Berrysmith had a chance at the free-throw line to give Central an early fourth quarter lead, but missed both attempts. The Vikings responded with  a layup giving them a two-point lead. Berrysmith then got fouled and missed both free throws again.

WWU held a four-point lead throughout much of the fourth quarter.

Down five, Steward hit a tough jumper to make it close, but WWU responded with a two from junior guard Taylor Peacocke 23 seconds later. With 1:55 left in the game Steward hit a 3-pointer bringing Central within two.

WWU  gave Central three chances late tie it up, but the WIldcats couldn’t capatalize.

“We had opportunities, just critical miss free throws, critical offensive rebounds and untimely turnovers I think were the difference in the game,” head coach Jeff Harada said. “I think either team could’ve won tonight, they just outplayed us in the final three minutes.”

Right before the first quarter ended WWUs leading scorer Peacocke went down with a lower body injury and left the game, but returned six minutes later.

Peacocke finished with 20 points, five rebounds and shot 50 percent from the field with three 3-pointers in 34 minutes.

“She hit some big buckets,” Harada said.

For Central, sophomore guard Jasmin Edwards lead the team with 20 points and five assists, on 7-of-15 shooting in 40 minutes. Edwards had 14 of the 29 total first half points.

“I just got good open shots and knocked them down and it felt good to get that,” Edwards said.

The only other Central player that scored in double figures was Steward, she had 15 points to go along with five rebounds.

The rest of the team combined for 16 points between five players.

WWU held Parker, Central’s leading scorer, to two points.

Coming into the season WWU beat Central the last 17 times going back to the 2007-08 season.

“Just knowing going into these games that we can win and even having the opportunity to sweep them was great,” Edwards said.

Central has a quick turnaround playing again at home this Saturday against Simon Fraser University, who comes in at 10-8 overall and 8-5 in conference.

“We gotta get the next one on Saturday… it’s a must win,” Harada said.