WWU women advance to Monday NCAA regional final

Trailing by seven points in the fourth quarter with a season hanging in the balance, Western Washington clawed back when it mattered most to upset conference rival Central Washington, 64-58 Saturday, advancing to Monday's NCAA Division II West Region final in Hayward, California. 

Western (22-5) will play No. 1 seed Cal State East Bay, an 82-74 winner over No. 5 Azusa Pacific at 7 p.m. Monday for the West Region title and a trip to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in Birmingham, Ala.

Western is ranked No. 25 in the nation in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association poll going into the tournament. Asuza Pacific is No. 9 and Cal State East Bay is No. 15.

In the fourth season meeting between the two Great Northwest Athletic Conference teams, No. 3 seed Western outscored No. 2 seed CWU 21-8 in the final quarter just one week after CWU dominated in beating the Vikings for the conference tournament crown.