Warrior Women's Basketball Keeps Rolling, Heading to NWAC Semifinals

Pasco, WA - March is still full of madness for the Walla Walla Community College Women's Basketball team! With two wins this past weekend in the first two rounds of the NWAC Tournament, including a last-second victory over Lane, the Warriors will take the floor in the final weekend of NWAC Women's Basketball at the Final Four. Semifinal action will be held on Friday with the winners of both semifinal games advancing to the NWAC Women's Basketball Championship Game on Sunday at 3:00 PM. All NWAC Tournament games continue to be held at Holden Court in Pasco, WA, on the campus of Columbia Basin College.

Walla Walla 60 vs. Olympic 46 (Round of 16)

The Warriors began their NWAC Tournament title defense on Saturday with a matchup against the Olympic Rangers, the #4 seed from the North region. Walla Walla got out to a great start, leading 21-12 at the end of the first quarter, and led wire to wire. As has been the case, WWCC played stellar defense, limiting the Rangers to just 32.8% shooting from the field, while forcing 8 turnovers and out-rebounding OC 48-26 in the game. On the offensive end, despite a rough 1/16 shooting night from 3-point range, the Warriors still finished the contest 23/52 (44.2%) from the field and scored 38 of their 60 points in the paint.

As a group, the Warriors got 54 of their 60 points from their starting five with Hadley Fraas leading the way. Fraas scored 25 points on 8/13 shooting to go with 14 rebounds and 2 assists in a monster double-double effort for WWCC. Addy Laible contributed 16 points of her own on an efficient 7/8 night from the field while collecting 7 rebounds. Averee Osterhout did the facilitating for Walla Walla, leading the Warriors in assists with 6.

Walla Walla 62 vs. Lane 61 (Elite Eight)

Sunday's Elite Eight matchup provided a revenge opportunity for Walla Walla, taking on the Lane Titans who defeated WWCC earlier in the season at the NWAC Crossover by a score of 73-66. The Warriors certainly got their revenge as a Lane shot attempt rattled out of the rim at the buzzer to preserve a 62-61 victory for Walla Walla. This time, it was Lane who jumped out ahead of Walla Walla, shooting 53.8% from the field and making 5 3-pointers to claim a 21-10 first quarter advantage. Walla Walla clawed back to close out the first half, cutting the Lane advantage down to just 4 points at halftime. Hadley Fraas began her takeover in the third quarter, scoring 12 of her 20 total points in the period and helping WWCC to tie the score at 51 heading into the final quarter of play. At the end of a neck and neck fourth quarter, Fraas found herself at the free throw line with 1 second on the clock and the score tied at 61. She would knock down the first attempt to give the Warriors the lead before a desperation shot from Lane missed and the horn sounded, sending the Walla Walla team and fans into a frenzy!

For the second straight game, the Warrior starting five did the heavy lifting, this time scoring 59 of 62 total points with Fraas leading the charge. Fraas' 11 rebounds would also secure her her second double-double effort of the weekend. Addy Laible collected a season-high 18 rebounds to go with 11 points and a double-double of her own. Two other Warriors finished in double figures: Logan Sailors (15) and Averee Osterhout (13).

What's next?

The 2026 NWAC Women's Basketball Tournament Final Four is on deck for the coming weekend. The #1 seeds from all 4 regions have qualified for this year's Final Four! Clackamas (South #1) and Lower Columbia (West #1) will play the first game on Friday, tipping off at 5:00 PM. Walla Walla's game against Peninsula (North #1) will follow, getting started around 7:00 PM at Holden Court in Pasco, WA. Peninsula enters the game with a 24-4 overall record after finishing NWAC North play with a perfect 14-0 record. So far in the NWAC Tournament, they have defeated Treasure Valley (East #4) 70-66 and Umpqua (South #3) 71-57.