NAMPA, Idaho – The 2022-23 season started Friday for the Cal State East Bay women's basketball program in the Northwest Nazarene Classic. The outcome was not in the Pioneers' favor, as Central Washington took the season opener with a strong second half to win 84-63.
 

GAME SUMMARY

 
The Pioneers had control for the first half, including a 21-point second quarter. The 33-21 halftime lead was capped off by a 3-pointer by Camryn Washington in the closing seconds of the second quarter.
 
Through the first two quarters, Cal State East Bay went 13-for-27 from the floor and made a free throw. In the second quarter, the Pioneers went 5-for-9 from beyond the arc.
 
In the third quarter, the Wildcats turned the game around. They went on a run and on a free throw by Valerie Huerta at the 3:20 mark, took a 46-45 lead.
 
While the Pioneers managed to get leads back in the quarter, CWU led 57-52 through three quarters. The Wildcats made 11 field goals and 11 free throws in the third.
 
The lead for the Wildcats only grew in the fourth quarter with 11 of the 27 points came off free throws to help CWU pull away for an 84-63 win to open the season.
 

NOTABLE STATS

 

• Delia Moore and Jaela Richardson scored 17 points each for the Pioneers. Richardson made eight field goals and Moore had three 3-pointers.
• Payton Sterk had a team-high seven rebounds.
• Defensively, Taylor Linzie had four steals.
• Cal State East Bay went 22-for-73 from the floor and 10-for-13 from the free throw line.
• Samantha Bowman had a double-double for the Wildcats with 26 points and 17 rebounds. She also had a pair of blocks and a pair of steals.
• Friday's game was the Cal State East Bay head coaching debut for Jenny Thigpin.

 

POSTGAME QUOTE

 
Thigpin's thoughts following Friday's loss for the Pioneers:
"Central Washington is a great team. Their experience showed in the second half. We relaxed and did not stay together down the stretch. We have to learn from this one and be ready to bounce back tomorrow."
 

RECORDS

 
Cal State East Bay: 0-1
Central Washington: 1-0
 

UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY

 
The Pioneers return to Johnson Sports Center on Saturday at 5 p.m. MT (4 p.m. Pacific) for a matchup against Northwest Nazarene on the second day of the Northwest Nazarene Classic.