Central Washington’s Leading Scorer May Miss Game With Whitworth Men
Depending on the availability of Central Washington center John Greer, Whitworth may or may not have its hands full tonight against the Wildcats at Ellensburg.
Greer, a 6-foot-7 center was scheduled for an MRI on his left knee Thursday. Depending on the results, Greer may miss two to three weeks, according to Central coach Greg Sparling.
Without him, the Wildcats (5-2) will suit up just eight players against Whitworth (3-1). Greer is averaging a team-high 21.7 points and 10 rebounds a game while shooting close to 70 percent from beyond the 3-point line.
Last week, Central Washington was beaten by Gonzaga 86-66 at GU. However, CWU led the NCAA Division I Bulldogs 41-40 at intermission.
Greer’s performance drew high praise from GU center Scott Snider, who had guarded Washington State’s Mark Hendrickson earlier in the season.
“He (Greer) used me a couple of times. I thought I’d have an easier assignment after having to face Hendrickson, but Greer is one of the best NAIA players I’ve ever seen,” Snider said.
Greer transferred from Northern Arizona, and guard Troy Steigman is a transfer from the University of Portland.
The last time these two teams met, Whitworth rallied from a five-point halftime deficit to beat Central Washington 87-82, exactly two years ago.
Saturday, Whitworth travels across the Cascades to Kirkland to take on Northwest for the second time this season. Whitworth dumped the Eagles 82-56 in the earlier meeting.
Forward Nate Dunham leads Whitworth in scoring with 19.5 points and 9.5 rebounds a game. Guard Nate Williams averages 14.3 points and 3 assists.
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Whitworth will try to break a five-game losing streak when it returns home and face Lewis-Clark State. The Pirates (1-5) have lost five in a row since they defeated Montana Tech 58-49.
LC State is the seventh straight NAIA Division I foe for the Bucs. Last year, the Warriors beat Whitworth 96-67 at Spokane and 73-64 at Lewiston.
In addition to its losing streak, Whitworth is in a shooting slump. During their skid, the Pirates have not shot above 40 percent.
Jennifer Tissue (51.6) and Sherri Northington (55.7) are the only Pirates shooting better than 50 percent.
Tissue is averaging 18 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists a game while Northington is averaging 13 points and 9 rebounds.
, DataTimes