Big Bend women fall to Wenatchee Valley in overtime

MOSES LAKE — When you’re in the middle of a six-game losing streak, you could use a little luck to get things back on track.

The Big Bend Vikings (10-12, 2-7 NWAC) caught a break when Wenatchee Valley’s Anna Ingraham missed two free throws with less than a second remaining to win the game in regulation. But the Vikings let it get away in overtime, falling 62-55 to Wenatchee Valley College in Northwest Athletic Conference East women’s basketball action.

Callie Gronning gave the Vikings a 54-51 lead with a runner off the glass with 1:03 remaining, but their 28 turnovers, five in overtime, finally caught up with them. The Knights (8-11, 3-5) cut it to one on their next possession and the Vikings turned the ball over one more time and Whitney Shapp went coast-to-coast to give Wenatchee a 55-54 lead and the Knights ran it out with free throw shooting in the end.

“We didn’t take care of the ball in overtime,” Big Bend coach Preston Wilks said. “We got up in overtime, but they went down and converted on two consecutive turnovers. So instead of being up by three we were down by one. We needed to execute and take care of the ball. We had too many turnovers.”

As painful as the 28 turnovers were, where the game was quietly decided was at the free-throw line. Big Bend converted just seven-of-16 from the line. Although they did out-rebound the Knights 47-42, they left too many points out there that could have made the difference.

“Wenatchee is a great defensive team and they were in our face. When it came right down to it, we just weren’t strong enough with the ball,” said Viking guard Callie Gronning, who was working through some back issues. “We have to work on some things in practice and get better, because we’re going to see that a lot. We’ve had a rough patch lately, but we’re learning from every game and I think we’re getting better and that’s what matters.”

There were four lead changes and eight ties over the course of the game. Big Bend took the early lead in the overtime when Gronning fed Hailey Garrity, a 5-foot-11 sophomore from Beaverton, Ore., inside on their initial possession. Even with three consecutive turnovers, the Vikings took a one-point lead on a Maryah Tipping free throw and made a 54-51 lead on the Gronning runner through the lane. But Wenatchee Valley chipped away and made its free throws in the end.

Garrity led the Vikings with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Gronning was 2-of-3 from 3-point range and finished with 16 points. Tipping finished the night with 11 rebounds, nine on the defensive glass. Tatianna Lee led the Knights with 17 points.

Big Bend travels to Pendleton, Ore., on Saturday to play Blue Mountain Community College.

Score by quarters Wenatchee Valley 18 15 8 8 13 -- 62 Big Bend 13 13 11 12 6 -- 55 Wenatchee Valley -- Devenee Vallareal 3, Makenna Faulkner 8, Tatianna Lee 17, Treasure Farmer 8, Whitney Shapp 10, Talyssa Swan 14, Anna Ingraham. Totals -- Field goals: 21-69 3-point goals: 2-13. Free throws: 18-22. Score 62. Big Bend -- Sunnie Martinez 7, Hailey Garrity 19, Emily Allan 7, Callie Gronning 16, Maryah Tipping 6. Totals -- Field goals: 22-57. 3-point goals: 4-13. Free throws: 7-16. Score: 55