KENNEWICK — Semifinal hangover?
Not for Yakima Valley Community College's women's basketball team.
Bouncing back from Saturday's loss to eventual champion Lane, the Yaks completely overwhelmed Walla Walla 92-56 for third place Sunday in the NWAACC Tournament at Toyota Center.
"We have a great sophomore group and they really wanted to go out right," said YVCC coach Cody Butler. "And the freshmen wanted that for them, too. It was our best
all-around game of the year."
YVCC finished with a 29-4 record. Lane defeated Bellevue 81-65 in the championship game.
Freshman Andrea Blodgett was named to the all-tournament first team and sophomore Chelsie Morrison was picked for the second team.
The Yaks started fast and never slowed, opening a 14-point lead at the break and finishing with 53.3-percent shooting from the field. Only two of their 92 points came at the foul line.
Morrison connected on 11 of 17 shots for a game-high 25 points, and Blodgett collected 21 points and four steals.
The Yaks drained 10 of 20 shots from 3-point distance with seven players hitting a trey.
"We had so much energy it was amazing," Butler said. "The refs had to constantly warn our girls to sit down on the bench. I told the refs, 'They won't listen to me. If you have to give them a T (technical foul), I'll understand.' They were just so into the game."
WALLA WALLA — Lambrecht 2-4 0-0 4, Gossard 1-2 0-1 2, Short 6-9 4-5 16, Brenton 1-4 2-2 4, Strunk 1-5 1-3 3, Toone 0-1 0-0 0, Eagans 0-4 4-4 4, Hawk 0-1 2-2 2, Calhoun 5-14 4-4 16, Knight 1-2 2-3 5, Tabor 0-1 0-0 0, Glynn 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 17-48 19-24 56.
YAKIMA VALLEY — Shaunte Nance-Johnson 6-15 1-1 14, Andrea Blodgett 9-16 0-0 21, Hansen 0-0 0-0 0, Jones 2-2 0-0 4, Bishop 1-2 0-0 3, Whitney Honn 5-8 0-1 10, Chelsie Morrison 11-17 1-4 25, Stickney 2-6 0-0 5, Trescott 0-2 0-0 0, Dixey 0-0 0-0 0, Carlos 3-4 0-0 7, Streff 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 40-75 2-6 92.
Halftime—Yakima Valley 40, Walla Walla 26. 3-point goals—Walla Walla 3-11 (Calhoun 2-5, Knight 1-1), Yakima Valley 10-20 (Blodgett 3-5, Morrison 2-3, Carlos 1-1, Stickney 1-2, Bishop 1-2, Streff 1-3, Nance-Johnson 1-4). Fouled out—None. Rebounds—Walla Walla 36 (Short 14), Yakima Valley 38 (Trescott 4, Carlos 4). Assists—Walla Walla 9, Yakima Valley 10. Steals—Walla Walla 3, Yakima Valley 13 (Blodgett 4, Honn 3). Blocked shots—Walla Walla 1, Yakima Valley 2 (Stickney, Trescott). Turnovers—Walla Walla 26, Yakima Valley 11.
