The Bellevue College women’s basketball team suffered their first loss of the year after a hot 3-0 start out of the gates as visiting Yakima Valley topped the Bulldogs 76-73 tonight at Courter Family Athletic Pavilion. In a competitive game between two of the top squads in the NWAC, Yakima Valley turned in a 30-point fourth quarter to overtake the lead, courtesy of Bellevue’s foul trouble. The Yaks drained 13-of-15 from the free throw line as Bellevue managed to get to the charity stripe only once in the entire quarter.
Bellevue came out from halftime and built up an eight-point lead after three quarters. The ‘dogs controlled the quarter with 60% shooting from the floor and outrebounding Yakima Valley 15-2. Natalie Amos scored 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting including 2-for-2 from three-point land in the third quarter.
As Yakima Valley nibbled away at the lead in the fourth quarter, BC managed to hold onto the lead until the final minute before the Yaks claimed the lead at 72-71 on a shot by Lexie Skyles. The teams traded buckets with the clock winding down as Bellevue, down by one at 74-73 had a chance to win it with :03 on the clock but freshman Rokki Brown’s shot could not fall. Yakima Valley’s Arryn Hart made both free throws after an intentional Bellevue foul to seal the win. Freshman Kate Rutledge led Bellevue with 22 points and 7 rebounds.
Bellevue falls to 3-1 on the year and will host Walla Walla, Mount Hood, and South Puget Sound next weekend in the Bellevue Crossover Tourney. The Bulldogs’ first game will be Friday December 13 at 7:00 p.m. against Walla Walla.
Last Updated December 7, 2019
