SPOKANE — Cierra Jo McKeown hit six 3-pointers for Walla Walla Community College as she poured in a game-high 30 points, teammate Jade Skidmore tallied another 23 points, and the first-place Warriors cruised to their 19th straight win with an 81-51 thrashing of Spokane in NWAC East Region women’s basketball action here on Wednesday.
The Warriors (21-1 overall, 9-0 in the league) needed overtime to beat Spokane the first time they met on Jan. 3 in Walla Walla, but in Wednesday’s rematch, WWCC jumped out to a 29-14 lead in the first quarter, and spent the rest of the night only pulling away.
“We had done a lot of studying of them, but had a different game plan this time,” Warriors coach Bobbi Hazeltine said. “Obviously, this one worked out better for us. Last time, they made 12 shots from 3-point range. This time, they made four. And all of them were in the first half — none in the second.
“We were able to make the adjustment defensively,” Hazeltine continued. “I think that was big for us, and our offense seems to be coming around.”
The Warriors now have a week to prepare for their next opponents, seventh-place Wenatchee Valley,next Wednesday, and then fifth-place Big Bend on Saturday, back-to-back Big Pink Nights to raise cancer awarenness at WWCC.
While McKeown and Skidmore led the Warrior shooting attack here, the Warriors dominated Spokane with defense.
Rose Mongoyak scored 27 points for Spokane, but the rest of the Sasquatch mustered little else. As a team, they shot 34.5 percent (20-of-58) from the field and 4-of-17 on 3-pointers.
“We decided we were going to make to whole team beat us, give points to the big girl but take away their long shot,” Hazeltine said. “She got her points, but no one else. It was a good defensive effort by us.”
Meanwhile, WWCC’s Teresa Acock hit three 3-pointers — all of her scoring — early on as the Warriors jumped ahead before McKeown and Skidmore took turns cashing in.
“Cierra and Jade continue to play well,” Hazeltine said. “Each had a big half, and the rest of the team was really solid — which is really hard to do in Spokane. We hadn’t won there in a while.”
Warriors 81, Sasquatch 51
WALLA WALLA (81) — McKeown 30, Skidmore 23, Acock 9, Peralez 8, Gunter 5, Turner 5.
SPOKANE (51) — Mongoyak 27, Graham 8, Olson 7, Blair 5, Mongeon 4.
Walla Walla29202011—81
Spokane14121510—51
3-point goals — Walla Walla 11, Spokane 4. Total fouls — Walla Walla 9, Spokane 13. Fouled out — none. Technical fouls — none. Rebounds — Walla Walla 44, Spokane 32. Turnovers — Walla Walla 8, Spokane 11. Assists — Walla Walla 14, Spokane 11.
NWAC women’s standings
East Division
WL
Walla Walla90
Columbia Basin81
Treasure Valley54
North Idaho44
Big Bend45
Yakima Valley45
Wenatchee Valley36
Spokane36
Blue Mountain09
Wednesday, Jan. 31 games
Walla Walla 81, Spokane 51
Big Bend 65, Wenatchee Valley 62
Treasure Valley 63. Blue Mountain 51
Columbia Basin 77, Yakima Valley 53
Saturday, Feb. 3 games
Spokane at Treasure Valley, 1 p.m.
Blue Mountain at Big Bend, 2 p.m.
Wenatchee Valley at Columbia Basin, 2 p.m.
Yakima Valley at North Idaho, 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 7 games
Wenatchee Valley at Walla Walla, 6 p.m.
Spokane at Big Bend, 6 p.m.
North Idaho at Columbia Basin, 6 p.m.
Blue Mountain at Yakima Valley, 6 p.m.
Union Bulletin
