CWU Women's Basketball Clinches GNAC Tournament Berth in OT Thriller

Wildcats defeat Montana State Billings 73-65 to secure postseason spot

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The Central Washington University women's basketball team punched their ticket to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference tournament with a thrilling 73-65 overtime victory over Montana State Billings on Thursday night. Shooting guard Asher Cai tied her career-high with 37 points to lead the Wildcats, who improved to 21-3 overall and 12-2 in GNAC play with the win.

Why it matters

This victory secures a spot in the GNAC tournament for the Wildcats, who are looking to make a deep postseason run after a strong regular season. The win also continues CWU's dominance at home, where they have been tough to beat all year.

The details

Central Washington jumped out to an early 15-10 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 32-20 by halftime. But Montana State Billings fought back in the second half, trimming the deficit to just four points late in the fourth quarter. The game went to overtime, where the Wildcats were able to pull away for the 73-65 victory. In addition to Cai's big night, Capri Sims recorded a double-double with 18 points and 18 rebounds.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 14, 2026.
  • Central Washington improved to 21-3 overall and 12-2 in GNAC play with the win.

The players

Asher Cai

A shooting guard for Central Washington University, Cai tied her career-high with 37 points in the overtime victory.

Capri Sims

A forward for Central Washington University, Sims recorded a double-double with 18 points and 18 rebounds in the win.

Randi Richardson

The head coach of the Central Washington University women's basketball team.

Montana State Billings

The opponent of Central Washington University, the Yellowjackets fell to 14-12 overall and 6-7 in GNAC play with the loss.

Kaitlin Grossman

A player for Montana State Billings who had a last-second shot attempt waved off at the end of regulation.

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What they’re saying

“Our team gutted out another tough conference win and that's what you have to do in this league. I was very pleased with how we buckled down and got stops in OT. That shows a lot of grit.”

— Randi Richardson, Head Coach, Central Washington University (dailyrecordnews.com)

“Asher and Capri stepped up big for us and their performances were critical in getting us this win.”

— Randi Richardson, Head Coach, Central Washington University (dailyrecordnews.com)

What’s next

Central Washington will host Seattle Pacific on Saturday, February 16, 2026 as they continue their push towards the GNAC tournament.

The takeaway

This hard-fought overtime victory showcases the resilience and talent of the Central Washington women's basketball team, who have now secured a spot in the GNAC tournament and are poised for a deep postseason run.