WWCC Basketball Remains Unbeaten in East Region Play

Walla Walla, WA. - The Warriors were back in NWAC East Region action this weekend, hitting the road to take on the Yaks of Yakima Valley College. Before Saturday night's action, both of the Women's and Men's programs were 5-0 and sitting atop of the East Region standings.

In the Women's game, Coach Hazeltine and the Warriors got off to a quick start and it was all Warriors in this one. A well rounded stat sheet saw the Warriors double up the Yaks and take a 40-20 lead into halftime. Brielle Magnuson and Averee Osterhout both led the Warriors with 8 points apiece in the first half of play. The second half started with Yakima's strongest quarter of the night, scoring 17 points in the third quarter... but Sintia Varela answered back for the Warriors, knocking down multiple three-point shots and a couple of free throws to take a 60-37 lead into the final quarter of play. The Warriors took the wind out of Yakima's sails early in the fourth on their way to a 29-point quarter, finishing the win with a final score of 89-47. Addy Laible scored 10 points and grabbed 3 rebounds in just 8 minutes in the fourth quarter. Brielle Magnuson led all scorers in the contest with 15 points (5-12) in 26 minutes of action. Sintia Varela, Hadley Fraas, Jaisha Gibb, Averee Osterhout, and Addy Laible all scored 10+ points in the contest. The Warriors are now 6-0, sitting atop the East Region standings, with 8 conference games remaining.

In the second game of the Women's / Men's Basketball doubleheader, Coach Reinland and the Warriors took an undefeated East Region record into Sherar Gym to take on the fourth-place Yaks. The Warriors would be without Sophomore Guard, Austin Ramos, in Saturday's game, due to injury. Ramos is one the NWAC's best three-point shooters, sitting in fourth place amongst all qualifying shooters at 47% from behind the arc. As things got started, it was back and forth early and often between the Warriors and Yaks. On the way to a 54-43 Warriors' lead at halftime, Trey Arland carried the load - scoring 16 of his 24 points in the first 20 minutes of action on 6-11 shooting. The Warrior's other go-to guy, Luke Holecek, got into early foul trouble and only played 11 minutes in the first half, scoring 7 points and grabbing two rebounds. Drew Hottinger stepped up in Holecek's absense and put together an 11-point half (4-5). Trayce Atkins and Charlie Tipke-Henry both contributed to the lead with 7 and 8 points, respectively, in the first half. The 9-point halftime lead would prove to be integral in Walla Walla's victory as the Yaks came out and put together a 47-point second half, outscoring the Warriors by 2 in the final 20 minutes of action. The back and forth would continue, seeing Trayce Atkins, Trey Arland, Braden Volkers, and Drew Hottinger really hold the line for the Warriors to finish off the win. In the second half of play, Trayce Atkins scored 13 points, added an assist, and grabbed a huge steal late in the game to help seal the victory for the Warriors. Trey Arland led all scorer's in Saturday's contest, finishing the game with 24 points (9-19, 6-14 3PM-A), 11 assists, 5 rebounds, and a steal. Arland currently sits in second among all scorers in the NWAC at 24.4 PPG. The Warriors are now 6-0, sitting one game in front of Spokane in the East Region standings. 

Both programs will be back in action on Saturday, February 1st, 2025, in the Dietrich Activity Center, against Big Bend Community College at 2:00p / 4:00p.