Lady Vikings record upset win

MOSES LAKE - Behind a big second half display on both ends of the floor, the Big Bend Lady Vikings basketball team recorded its first league win of the season against one of the better teams around.

Sparked by 53 percent field goal shooting and a dominant performance from its bench players, Big Bend defeated the Northwest Athletic Association of Community College's fourth-ranked team, Yakima Valley Community College, 84-70, at Peter DeVries Activity Center Wednesday night.

Ali Nielsen led Big Bend (8-6, 1-1) with 17 points and six rebounds.

"We believe that the girls played to their potential tonight," Big Bend head coach Preston Wilks said. "This was without doubt the best game and the best that we have played to date."

Leading only 40-38 at halftime, the Lady Vikings outscored YVCC 44-32 in the second half and its bench outplayed their hosts' to the tune of a 36-17 scoring advantage.

Big Bend held their guests to only 36 percent shooting on the night, including a dismal 24 percent performance from beyond the arc.

Shelby Scott scored 12 points and Brin Neff added 11 points for Big Bend, which had 10 different players score, seven of which had at least seven points.

"I thought the way they played brought a real energy and we seemed to feed off that," Wilks said. "We've had a few letdowns so far this season during the second halves of our games, but tonight we played our best ball after halftime."