BBCC women split games

MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College (BBCC) women's basketball took one of two home games over the weekend. The Lady Vikings dropped the first contest to Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC) Friday, but got back on the winning track Saturday with a win over Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC).

BMCC 68

BBCC 62

It was a game of missed opportunities. That's how coach Preston Wilks described the Lady Vikings 6-point loss to the Timberwolves Friday.

"We played well and played with intensity, but we inexplicably missed multiple, easy chances to score throughout the game," he said. "The first half, we missed five open layups or put-backs alone. Then, in the second half, we missed eight free throws, three of which were the front ends of a one-and-one."

Despite the miscues, BBCC was end the game to the bitter end. The Lady Vikings were only down 5 points and the half, 33-28, and were outscored by 1 point in the second half of action.

Cristina Marlatt led a balanced offensive attack for BBCC with 14 points. Alli Winters, Shaylyn Brown and Hannah Smith added 10 each, Jessica Sorensen added 7, Sierra Zollinger had 5, and Jazlyn Nielsen, McKall Miller and Desirae Hall finished with 2 points each. Zollinger won the rebound battle between the teams, pulling down 12 boards. Brown and Soernsen finished with 11 rebounds each for the Lady Vikings.

"Cristina had a great game with 14 points and 3 assists and only 1 turnover in 31 minutes," Wilks said. "She really came through with some clutch shots. We had another strong rebounding performance with Sierra leading the charge, and  Shaylyn came off the bench with a really strong performance.  She was really hustling and provided a great spark for us in the second half."

BBCC out-rebounded BMCC 48-38. But the Lady Vikings had an off night shooting-wise connecting on just 38 percent from the floor, 15 percent from the 3-point line, and 37 percent from the charity stripe.

 BBCC 78

TVCC 59

BBCC bounced back form the loss to the Timberwolves with an 18-point win against the Chukars Saturday afternoon. The game was never in doubt as the Lady Vikings jumped out to a 40-24 halftime lead, and then outscored TVCC 38-35 in the second half of play.

"We came out very strong against the Chukars and raced to a 16 point lead at the half," Wilks said. "Alli Winters was on fire in, knocking down five-of- 10 shots from beyond the arc for 22 first half points. It was great to see her bounce back and to find her stroke again after our loss on Friday to Blue Mountain."

BBCC picked up where the team left off in the first half of play as the Lady Vikings pushed their lead to 30 points with about nine minutes to go to cruise to the win. 

"I was really happy to see first unit work so hard and reward their teammates an opportunity to play most of the minutes down the stretch," Wilks said. "We had another huge rebounding night from Sierra Zollinger as she hauled in 16 rebounds in the game."

Winters had a game high 27 points in the win. Hannah Smith added 15, and Jazlyn Nielsen finished with 10.

The split moves BBCC to 3-2 in East Division play, and 13-5 overall and a No. 5 ranking in both the NWAACC Coaches and Joward Power Poll's.

The Lady Vikings area back in action tonight when the team heads to Pasco to take on the Columbia Basin Community College Hawks.