Women’s basketball hangs on to defeat Yakima Valley

NIC women’s basketball pulled out a close 65-62 victory over fifth-ranked Yakima Valley at home Saturday afternoon.

Sydnie Peterson tries to shake off a Yakima Valley defender in NIC’s 65-62 victory over Yakima Valley. NIC has now won seven of their last 10 games and extended their winning streak to three, which is currently the longest streak in the East region.

Up 63-62 the Cards fouled Yakima Valley guard Kalli Willett with 20 seconds left in the game. Willett, a 49 percent free-throw shooter, missed both attempts and Alex Carlton came up with the rebound. The Cards were able to wind the clock down to six seconds before Yakima Valley was able to commit enough fouls to send Carlton to the free-throw line. Carlton sank both attempts and NIC was able to survive the Yaks last-ditch three-point heave.

The Cards started the game on fire and jumped out to a 24-11 lead on 10-17 shooting by the end of the first quarter. Yakima Valley countered in the second quarter with a suffocating defense that held NIC to just 5 points to tie up the game at 29-29 at the end of the first half.

The second half was tightly contested, but the Cards managed to hang and win avenging their 63-70 loss against the Yaks last month.

Halle Ebboral had a double-double with 10 rebounds and a team high 18 points. Alex Carlton also had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, and Anna Schrade came up with 13 rebounds and put up 7 points.

NIC (10-5, 16-10) will play their final game of the season at home against Columbia Basin (5-10, 8-19) Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 5:30 p.m. The game will be the last home match for sophomores Halle Eborall, Sydnie Peterson, Anna Schrade and Alex Carlton.