Lady Vikes Drop First Conference Game in Tight Road Battle

The Lady Vikes faced off against the Columbia Basin Hawks this past Saturday, January 17, in Pasco, Washington, in a hard-fought conference matchup. The contest featured plenty of back-and-forth action and multiple lead changes throughout the afternoon.

Big Bend trailed by just one point, 17–16, after the opening 10-minute frame before continuing to trade baskets with the Hawks in the second quarter. BBCC was able to knot the game at 26 apiece heading into halftime, setting the stage for a competitive second half.

Despite the close score at the break, the Lady Vikes were unable to seal the deal over the final two quarters, ultimately suffering their first conference loss of the season by a score of 58–54.

Brooke Warren led Big Bend in scoring, pouring in 17 points on an efficient 8-for-15 shooting performance. Oakley Jackman also had a strong outing, chipping in 15 points of her own to help keep the Vikings within striking distance.

Turnovers proved to be a key factor in the loss, as the Lady Vikes committed 21 turnovers that led to 20 points for the Hawks—an area that ultimately made the difference. Big Bend also struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 5 of 25 attempts for a 20 percent shooting clip from three-point range.

The Lady Vikings will look to regroup and bounce back quickly as they head to Yakima this upcoming Wednesday to take on the Yakima Valley Yaks in their next conference matchup.