Lady Vikings Rally Past Yakima, Secure No. 2 Seed in Eastern Region

Hoping to finish strong and keep their Eastern Region title hopes alive, the Lady Vikings of Big Bend Community College squared off against the Yaks of Yakima Valley College on Wednesday, February 25.

With playoff implications on the line and Sophomore Day adding extra emotion to the night, the stakes were high inside the Dvries Activity Center. The Lady Vikes were determined to honor their sophomores the right way and carry momentum into postseason play.

The game, however, did not start according to plan. Big Bend came out sluggish in the opening quarter and found themselves trailing 21–11 after the first frame. Yakima Valley controlled the tempo early, forcing the Lady Vikings to play from behind.

BBCC chipped away at the deficit in the second quarter, showing flashes of the energy and defensive pressure that has defined their season. Despite the push, the Lady Vikes headed into halftime down eight, knowing they would need a strong second-half response to protect their playoff positioning.

That response came swiftly.

Big Bend put its foot on the gas after the break, turning up the defensive intensity and attacking the rim with confidence. The Lady Vikings methodically erased the deficit and completed the comeback in dramatic fashion, securing a hard-fought 65–61 victory over the Yaks.

Balanced scoring fueled the turnaround, as five Lady Vikes reached double figures. Kaliyah Evans led the charge with 18 points, delivering key buckets down the stretch. Oaklie Jackman continued her dominant interior presence, recording yet another double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds to anchor the paint on both ends of the floor.

The win marks the conclusion of the regular season for the 2026 Lady Vikings, but their journey is far from over. With the victory, BBCC secured the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Region and now shifts its focus to postseason basketball.