Led by tournament MVP Brenda Akoto, the BC women’s basketball team posted three consecutive victories over the weekend to win the Pierce Tournament at Lakewood, Wash., including a 57-44 upset of top-ranked and previously unbeaten Lane in the semifinals.
The Bulldogs (5-2) opened with a 67-64 victory over Wenatachee Valley on Friday, Dec. 9 and then upended defending NWAC champion Lane 57-44 on Saturday. Against Clackamas in the title game on Sunday, BC built a 34-16 halftime lead en route to a 58-43 victory.
In the opener against Wenatchee Valley, the Bulldogs overcame a 16-9 deficit after one quarter. BC cut the deficit to 34-30 at the half and then led 49-46 entering the final period. Brenda Akoto, a 6-foot freshman forward, had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and sophomore swing player Erin Hamilton added 20 points on 6-of-7 shooting, along with 10 rebounds. Freshman guard Molly Dixon added 10 points, along with four assists and three steals, and freshman Duaneah Wheeler also had 10 points.
Lane, ranked No. 1 in the Under Armour Coaches Poll for Dec. 9, brought a 7-0 mark into the semifinals after opening the tournament with a 90-80 victory over Columbia Basin. But the Bulldogs, who did not receive a single vote in the first poll, clamped down defensively on the high-scoring Titans, who had scored 80 or more points in four of their first seven victories.
BC led 14-9 after one quarter and stretched it to 35-21 at the half. The Bulldogs maintained the lead after the break, taking a 47-32 lead into the final quarter. The Bulldogs held Lane to 31 percent shooting on 18-of-58, including just 2 of 15 from beyond the arc. Led by Brenda Akoto’s 13 rebounds, the Bulldogs also enjoyed a 54-37 advantage on the boards.
Melinda Akoto, also a 6-foot freshman forward and Brenda’s twin sister, led a balanced attack with 13 points, along with seven rebounds. Freshman guard Sierra Cole added 12 points and Hamilton, also a first-team all-tourney pick, added 11 points, along with eight rebounds and seven assists.
In the championship game against Clackamas, the Bulldogs took their defense up yet another notch. BC limited the Cougars to 22 percent from the field (15-of-68), including a paltry 4-of-30 from three-point range.
Brenda Akoto had 18 points, making 7 of 9 shots, and a game-high nine rebounds. Dixon added 13 points, including 3 of 6 beyond the arc. Hamilton added 10 points.
The Bulldogs return to action in the Portland Crossover, Dec. 16-18. BC opens against Portland CC on Friday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m., then faces Walla Walla on Saturday at noon, and closes against Lower Columbia on Sunday.
Last Updated December 12, 2016
