Box Score COLLEGE PLACE, Wash. – A missed free throw with no time left at the end of the game enabled the host Walla Walla University Wolves to escape with a 63-62 win over the Multnomah University Lions in the first of back-to-back games between the Cascade Collegiate Conference women's basketball rivals Thursday night here at Windemuth Court.
A three-pointer by
Tiara Chinn and a layup by
Bethany George gave Multnomah early 3-0 and 5-2 leads, but Walla Walla tied it with a three by Alyssa Blankenship and went ahead 7-5 on a pair of Sarah Halversen free throws at the 5:59 mark. The Wolves maintained the lead until midway through the fourth quarter, taking an 18-9 lead after the first period on a three by Kai Chamberlain. WWU took its largest lead of 12 points on a Blankenship layup that made it 30-18 with 4:36 left in the second, and the Wolves held a 32-25 lead at the break after a
Valerie Wakefield layup brought the Lions within seven.
Another Wakefield basket drew Multnomah within a point at 39-38 with 4:51 left in the third, but it was not until George drained a three with 4:07 left in the game that the Lions finally regained the advantage. A Carolina Montes three with 3:46 left put the Wolves back on top, and a trey by Halversen made it 62-57 with 56 seconds to go. The Lions responded with another triple by George to make it 62-60 before Blankenship hit one of two free throws with eight ticks left for a 63-60 Walla Walla lead.
George missed a potential tying three with three seconds left, but
Rachelle Tau corralled the rebound, put it back in, and was fouled as the buzzer sounded. However, her freebie that would have sent the game into overtime rolled off the rim, giving the Lions another heart-breaking loss and the Wolves their first conference win since joining the league at the same time as Multnomah three years ago.
--- By the Numbers: George led all scorers with a game-high 21 points for the Lions, 15 of them on five threes,
Faith Kraatz posted her second double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, and Wakefield added 10 points.
Paris Sanders led the Lions, who won the battle of the boards 53-48, with 14 caroms. Wakefield handed out three assists, while Kraatz added three blocked shots and two steals.
Blankenship paced the Wolves with 15 points, followed by Montes with 13, Halversen 12, and Michaela Garcia 10. Halversen had a double-double with a game-high 17 rebounds. Garcia had five assists and a pair of blocked shots.
Multnomah is now 0-21 on the season and 0-11 in the conference, while Walla Walla is 3-13 overall and 1-10 in the CCC.
--- Next: Multnomah and Walla complete their series Friday at 12:00 p.m.
