PENDLETON — Walla Walla Community College used a 29-point third period and a stifling defense to defeat Blue Mountain 81-44 here Saturday in women’s NWAC east Region basketball action.
The Warriors took a 10-point lead to intermission, but came out on fire to out score the Timberwolves 29-11 in the third and take a 28-point lead to the fourth and cruise to the win.
“It was our fifth game in eight days,” Warriors coach Bobbi Hazeltine said. “We didn’t pull away until the third quarter. Once we got going we pulled away. We played all 1 kids.
“All scored and all but one got a rebound.”
Maybe, more importantly, the Warrior defense held BMCC to 15-of-55 shooting from the field, 27 percent, for the game. The Warriors did not allow a single Timberwolf to reach double digits.
“I’m always worried about tired legs,” Hazeltine continued. “This was a complete team effort. A good way to cap tghe five-game run.
“We had a lot of fun and played good defense.”
At the offensive end, Cierra Jo McKeown connected on four-of-her seven shots from downtown, hit all seven of her free throw attempts, and finished with a game-high 25 points.
Jade Skidmore was the floor leader for the Warriors as she scored 14, hitting seven-of her-eight free throws, collected a double, double with a game-high 10 rebounds, and handed out a game-high four assists.
Makenzie Reddish finished with eight for the Warriors and Kate Ferenz chipped in two of the Warriors eight made treys and finished with six.
WWCC improves to 5-1 in the East and hosts Treasure Valley Wednesday.
“We’re back on a normal schedule,” Hazeltine concluded. “Everybody in our league is tough. There’s never an easy night.”
