Big Bend sweeps classic
Big Bend guard Megan Howerton (5) shoots the ball during the Lady Vikings' 78-68 won over the Blue Mountain Timberwolves Saturday afternoon. Photo by Miles Douglass/Columbia Basin Herald
MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Lady Vikings women’s basketball team turned out a dominating performance at the Basic American Foods Viking Classic basketball tournament last weekend.
The Lady Vikings defeated the Clark College Penguins 71-58 Friday night and rallied past the Blue Mountain Timberwolves 78-68 Saturday afternoon to finish the tournament undefeated at the DeVries Activity Center on the Big Bend campus.
Big Bend ran out to a 32-23 halftime lead before Clark College rallied to close the gap in the second half. The Lady Vikings worked to distance themselves from the Penguins as Big Bend ran out to an 11-point advantage.
The Penguins continued to put the pressure on the Lady Vikings and managed to tie the game in the second half.
Big Bend head coach Preston Wilks said Friday night’s game was a back-and-forth battle.
“It was kind of a roller-coaster game for us,” he said.
The Lady Vikings took care of the basketball Friday night as Big Bend built a 15-point lead late in the second half on their way to a 71-58 victory.
Wilks said his team made the most of their possessions on offense.
“We took care of the ball better than we had all season,” he said. “When you take care of the ball you can win ball games.”
The Lady Vikings had four players finish in double-digit scoring. Angela Fales led Big Bend with 13 points, Natalie Lindley and Sarah Smith each had 12 and Alia Parker finished with 11.
Big Bend built on the momentum earned in Friday night’s win over Clark College to knock off Blue Mountain Saturday afternoon.
The Lady Vikings were unable to take care of the ball as well as they had Friday night, but Big Bend still made the most of their offensive possession.
“We didn’t take care of the ball as well (against Pendleton), but we shot (the ball) real well,” he said.
The Lady Vikings shot 54.2 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from behind the 3-point line.
Tayler Anderson led Big Bend in scoring Saturday afternoon with 19 points and Megan Howerton added 16 points.
Although Big Bend came away with the tournament sweep, Wilks said his team needs to focus on playing a complete game.
“We need to find a way to bring everything together,” he said. “We haven’t done that yet. I’m waiting for us to out-shoot, out-rebound and take care of the ball.”
Big Bend returns to the court tonight when the Lady Vikings host Salish-Kootenai.
Tonight’s game is the final non-conference home game for Big Bend and their last home game until Jan. 14.
The opening tip off is scheduled for 6 p.m.