Clark 64, Walla Walla 56 [stats]
Sophomore guard Nicolette Bond played savior for Clark scoring the final seven points to help the Pengins push past Walla Walla 64-56 and stave off elimination and move into tomorrow’s 5th place game at noon.
It had been a close contest from start to finish, save a handful of brief 10-point leads for Clark midway through the first half. Andrea Smith collected her own miss and scored a few seconds later with 7:35 remaining in the game to give the Penguins an eight point edge, but it quickly evaporated. Walla Walla got a three pointer from Karli McHone with just under four minutes to play, cutting the lead to 57-55, and a minute later, MeShel Rad was on the free throw line with a chance to tie the game up. The first free throw was good, but the second rattled out, leaving Clark to nurse their one-point lead with 2:28 left.
That’s when Nicolette Bond got to work. She nailed a three pointer to give Clark a four point edge, grabbed an essential defensive rebound after a strong defensive possession, and then hit all four of her free throws inside the final minute to ice the game.
Bond led all scores with 23 points, and pulled down eight boards. Shantell Jackson scored 14 points for Clark.
Walla Walla was led by 18 points from McHone, and will leave the tournament having finished 1-2.
