Four ‘Cats garner GNAC honors

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Great Northwest Athletic Conference announced Tuesday that four Wildcats were represented on the All-Conference Teams, with senior guard Asher Cai earning Player of the Year honors, marking the fourth Wildcat to earn the Player of the Year distinction in the past five seasons. 

"I'm happy for Asher, Capri, Fiona, and Anna," CWU Head Women's Basketball Coach Randi Richardson said. "All four of them are very deserving and have been big factors in our team's success this season." 

The GNAC Preseason Player of the Year has lived up to expectations and making the most of her senior campaign. This season, Cai has become the GNAC leader in three's made, breaking the record Jan. 17 at Montana State Billings and now sits at 279 career three-pointers made. On top of that, she surpassed a decade-long record of the most career points scored in GNAC history, currently sitting at 2,195 career points.  

The three-time First Team All-GNAC selection, Cai has been one of the prominent scorers in the entire NCAA Division II at 23.1 points per game which has totaled 648 points this season alone. She hit a new career-high 37 points twice this season, coming first against Mary before tying it against MSUB at home. 

This season alone, Cai has scored 20 or more points in 19 games this season and 30 or more points in four of those. She's also averaged 6.1 rebounds this season as well as a career-high 4.5 assists per game which she saw a career-high nine assists against Cal Poly Humboldt enroute to the 125 assists she's accumulated already this season. She's added seven blocks and 40 steals and has shot 44 percent from the floor, 35.2 percent from three, and 86.6 percent at the free-throw line with her field goal and free-throw percentages this season being career-highs.  

"Asher's career at CWU has been so special and historic," Richardson said. "She has established herself as not only one of the all-time greatest Wildcats, but also one of the all-time greatest players to come out of our conference in its history. In her senior year, when the spotlight on her has been the biggest, she's stepped up for our team in so many ways and has helped put our team in positions that our program has never been in before. Her ability to take and make tough shots is extraordinary, and she has stepped up massively in her playmaking and leadership in helping make those around her better. She is so deserving of this recognition, and I am so happy for her." 

Making her debut on the Second Team All-GNAC, Capri Sims has seen her best season yet in a Wildcat uniform. She's earned GNAC recognition all three seasons, garnering Honorable Mention All-GNAC her freshman and sophomore campaigns. 

She has averaged 13.4 points per game this season for a total of 375 points while adding 9.1 rebounds per game for a total of 256 this season. She has racked up 10 Double-doubles and has seen new career-highs in both points and rebounds, scoring 24 points at Cal Poly Humboldt and grabbing 18 rebounds against Montana State Billings. She's added 2.5 assists per game, 20 blocks, 20 steals, and has shot 56.5 percent from the floor which leads the GNAC and has been one of the highest percentages in NCAA Division II. 

"Capri has had a great year and is vital to our team's success," Richardson said. "She is the player you can always rely on to empty her tank anytime she steps onto the floor whether in practices or games. She has stepped up for our team this year in so many ways including leadership. She has expanded her offensive skillset and versatility defensively, which has been huge for us. Capri is so deserving, and I'm so happy she has received this recognition. 

Fiona Snashall has been a pleasant addition to the Wildcats this season after transferring from fellow NCAA Division II member Regis (CO), garnering Second Team All-GNAC for her efforts. 

She has averaged a double-double of 10.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. She's racked up 289 points and 283 rebounds this season with season-high 18 points coming at Northwest Nazarene and 23 rebounds coming against Western Oregon while adding 22 rebounds against Simon Fraser. She's tacked on 10 double-doubles this season. She added 2.4 assists per game while tacking on a team-high 31 blocks as well as 30 steals. She's shooting 46.8 percent from the floor, 36.4 percent from three, and 60.4 percent at the free-throw line this season. 

Rounding out the 'Cats earning All-GNAC honors is junior guard Annalee Coronado who earned her first All-GNAC distinction in her career landing Honorable Mention honors. 

Coronado made her season debut against Walla Walla over the holiday break after recovering from an injury. In those 18 games since her debut she has averaged a career-high 8.7 points while adding 2.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. She scored a career-high 24 points at Simon Fraser. She scored double figures in six games. She's added four blocks and eight steals while shooting 48 percent from the floor, 35.9 percent from three, and 78.1 percent at the free-throw line. 

"Anna has done a wonderful job stepping into our team mid-season after being out," Richardson said. "She also provides a ton of versatility for us and has done a great job of playing many different positions or guarding different positions for us within games. Whatever our team needs, Anna is willing to step up and do and has been an incredible asset to our team and as a leader. She is very deserving of this recognition, and I am so happy for her." 

The Wildcats will turn their attention to the GNAC Tournament where they will face off against the winner of the third-seeded Saint Martin's Saints and the sixth-seeded Montana State Billings Yellowjackets on Friday at noon from WECU Court at Carver Gym. 

    Capri Sims, a junior from CWU pushes through the defending Northwest Nazarene player during their last home matchup.
  

    CWU junior Fiona Snashall gets ready to put up two points during the last home game of the regular season.
  

    Annalee Coronado (40), a junior from the Wildcats, runs past her teammates on the sideline as they all cheer during a prior home game this season.