Women’s Basketball Topped By Skagit Valley

Amanda Luckett led Bellevue with 27 points. photo by Rick May.
Amanda Luckett led Bellevue with 16 points and 13 rebounds. photo by Rick May

 

In a must-win game for survival into post-season play, the Bellevue College women’s basketball team had to overcome adversity beyond reason and ultimately fell yesterday afternoon 71-66 against Skagit Valley. The game was not only the regular season finale, but a tie-breaker of sorts as both teams ended up tied for fourth place in the North Region, with the fourth place team earning the final berth to the NWAC Championship Sweet Sixteen Round which begins later this week. Although tied, the loss by Bellevue gave Skagit the head-to-head tie-breaker advantage due to Skagit winning both contests against the Bulldogs this year. Bellevue had to overcome a young roster decimated by injuries and was forced to play back-to-back snow make-up games in must-win situations.

The lethargy from the previous day’s loss seemed evident as Bellevue fell behind 21-7 in the first quarter. The ‘dogs were 2-of-16 from the field, shooting just 12% which put them in an early hole. Bellevue crept back in the second quarter thanks to Skagit taking a turn at getting the cold hand, as the Cardinals shot 3-of-14 and could only muster 8 points in the quarter.

After coming out of halftime down only five, 29-24, Bellevue then appeared to shift the momentum for good by outscoring the Cardinals 25-16 to take a four point lead into the final quarter. The Bulldogs found the hot hand from the perimeter, as Ashley Anderson and Dakota Laut each made two three-pointers to lead the charge.

Bellevue played evenly with Skagit Valley in the fourth, but fell victim to one player who single-handedly took charge of the game for Skagit Valley, as the Cardinals’ reserve guard Kiah Charlie scored 16 points, making everything she threw up in the final quarter, draining a perfect 4-for-4 from three=point land and was 4-for-4 from the free throw line as well. Charlie’s three-pointer with only 3:44 left gave Skagit their first lead since the second quarter at 61-60. Down by only one with 10 seconds remaining, Skagit Valley came through in the clutch as both Charlie and Mieke van Ess each made both free throws after being fouled to seal the win.

Amanda Luckett led Bellevue with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

Bellevue finishes the season at 8-6 in league and 12-14 overall. With a roster comprised of nearly all freshmen, including all of the starters, the Bulldogs have a strong nucleus in place for next year as the 2019 season comes to a close.

 

Last Updated March 4, 2019