YAKIMA — Back from an NWAC championship last season, the WWCC women’s basketball team got its 2018-19 campaign off to a strong start with back-to-back wins here at the Yakima Invitational.
WWCC freshman Jessica Cheney tallied a game-high 21 points and 11 rebounds as the Warriors defeated Mt. Hood, 73-65, on Friday.
A Saturday semifinal saw the Warriors pull off a late rally to upend Wenatchee Valley, 71-63.
McKenzie Gunter
McKenzie Gunter finished with a game-high 21 points for the Warriors.
The game was even at 60-60 with 3:56 left when WWCC freshman Sailor Liefke converted a pair of free throws to put them ahead for good.
WWCC finished off the win with an 11-3 run.
The Warriors (2-0 record) will play for the invitational championship today.
“We didn’t expect to do as well as we are doing right now,” Warriors coach Bobbi Hazeltine said. “Tomorrow may be different, but the fact that this new team would make it to the championship of this tournament is pretty exciting.
“This is a brand new team, and we came in just thinking we could learn some things,” Hazeltine continued. “We were just hoping to be competitive.”
“Last night, we beat Mt. Hood,” Hazeltine said. “Jessica Cheney just lit it up.”
“And then tonight, we beat a Wenatchee team that could be a favorite to win the East,” Hazeltine added. “We were down 11 at one point, and came all the way back.”
“We really handled some stressful situations in the end,” Hazeltine added. “And McKenzie had the game of her life.”
