As expected, Bellevue College women’s basketball played Peninsula evenly throughout all four quarters in a showdown between the top two teams in the North Region, but fell short 62-60. After jumping out ahead and leading most of the game, the home crowd rallied behind Peninsula, the defending NWAC champions, as the Pirates outscored Bellevue 22-15 in the fourth quarter to overtake the Bulldogs.
Neither team shot the lights out from the field, but Peninsula made up for it at the free throw line sinking 20-of-25 as compared to Bellevue having only 9 attempts on the night, sinking 6. While many Bulldogs played in foul trouble near the end of the game, Shelby Kassuba, who had only three fouls on her, led BC with 24 points. She also snagged down 8 rebounds. Freshman Erin Hamilton, who along with Kassuba, and guard Mikayla Jones, played nearly the entire game, had 10 rebounds. Jones added 15 points. The three of them made valiant efforts to anchor the team down the stretch, but could not endure the home team’s pressure.
The win was pivotal for both teams. Peninsula is now in first place outright. With one week to go in regular season play, the Bulldogs now need Skagit Valley, who are currently tied with Bellevue in second place, to lose a game in order for Bellevue to claim second place outright. If Bellevue finishes in third place after next week’s final two games, they will lose home court advantage in the first round of the NWAC playoffs.
Bellevue (10-2 league / 20-5 overall) takes on Whatcom at home on Wednesday February 24 at 5:00 p.m. It will be the sophomores’ final regular home season game, with a chance of one more home contest if the ‘dogs finish in the top two in the region.
Last Updated February 21, 2016
