Women's Basketball Starts East Region Play With Win In Spokane

Walla Walla, WA. - Conference play has officially started and the first game of NWAC East Region play saw the Warriors hit the road to take on the Sasquatch of Spokane Community College. Entering the game, the Warriors were 10-4 after the completion of their preseason schedule. Spokane was entering the game at an even 5-5 before hosting the Warriors.

As things got started in Spokane, it was neck and neck through the first quarter of play. The Warriors were carried by Brielle Magnuson and Hadley Fraas on the offensive side of things early on. The Warriors put together a 21-point first quarter, seeing Magnuson score 10 of her 30 on the night, and Hadley Fraas adding 9 first quarter points of her own. A more spread out stat sheet on Spokane's side of things saw them down just three points after the first.

Walla Walla would take note and do just the same in the second. Averee Osterhout, Hadley Fraas, Brielle Magnuson, Sidnee Geerdes, and Sintia Varela all scored for the Warriors on the way to a 16-point second quarter. The Warriors really stepped up, defensively, in the second quarter, holding the Sasquatch to just 8 points that led to a 37-26 lead for the Warriors at halftime.

Odd quarters were Magnuson's last night in Spokane. Coming out of halftime, Magnuson really started to feel it - scoring 12 of the Warrior's 30 third quarter points. Hadley Fraas and Averee Osterhout both added 6 points each in the third quarter as well. Between the first and third quarters alone, Magnuson had racked up 26 points on 10-14 shooting from the field.

Taking a 67-41 lead into the start of the fourth, the Warriors finished things off with another 20-point quarter to win the game 87-55. Brielle Magnuson finished the game with 30 points (12-16), 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal. Hadley Fraas finished with 22 points, 8 rebounds of her own, and an assist. Sidnee Geerdes was a perfect 3-3 from the field on her away to 11 points and Addy Laible made an impact off the bench, scoring 6 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

The Warriors are now 11-4 overall and 1-0 in NWAC East Region play. They will take on Blue Mountain Community College on Saturday, January 11th, 2025 in the Dietrich Activity Center for their first home game of 2025.