In a talent-rich tourney that featured several of the top NWAC teams, Bellevue College women’s basketball took third by going 2-1 over the weekend. On Friday December 11, Bellevue topped perennial powerhouse Clackamas (OR) by a score of 81-61. After jumping out to a four-point lead after one quarter, the Bulldogs stretched it out by outscoring the Cougars 25-10 in the second quarter. Shelby Kassuba had 27 points and was a dominating force inside. Kassuba was red hot shooting 13-for-21 from the field. Mikayla Jones had 22 points while Erin Hamilton continued her consistent play as one of Bellevue top freshmen by garnering 11 rebounds 6 assists and 14 points. Jones, Kassuba, and Montana Hagstrom all played the entire 40 minutes in the game. Hamilton played all but two minutes.
On Saturday December 12, Jones, Hagstrom, and Hamilton again played nearly every minute as the Bulldogs fatigued and lost a high scoring game to Eastern Region power Columbia Basin College 80-59. The Bulldogs shot only 32% from the field as no one could get a hot hand. Jones led BC with 22 points but was 8-for-22 from the field, and could not get hot behind the three-point line, making only 2 of 9. Hamilton was Bellevue’s most consistent performer, scoring 14 points and pulling down 14 rebounds.
Bellevue bounced back on Sunday December 13, pulling out a huge win over defending NWAC champion and Northern Region rival, Peninsula College, for third place by a score of 65-57. Jones regained her touch, sinking 10-of-18 from the field as she poured in 28 points. Hamilton, Kassuba, and Hagstrom all chipped in 11 points. The endurance factor also played a huge role in the final day of the tourney, as Jones, Hamilton, and Hagstrom again played the entire 40 minutes without a break.
Bellevue is now 4-2 and gets a second crack at Columbia Basin as the Bulldogs travel to Albany, OR for the Linn-Benton Crossover Tourney on December 18. Bellevue and Columbia Basin square off at 4:00 p.m. in the opening round.
Last Updated December 14, 2015
