The Bellevue women’s basketball team continued to win over the weekend of Dec. 2-4, going 3-0 in the Bellevue College Women’s Basketball Classic. The Bulldogs are in a tie with East Region’s Columbia Basin for fourth place in the NWAACC Coaches’ Poll released Nov. 30. Bellevue hosted the classic for the third year in the row, and extended this season’s overall record to 6-0. This year’s bracket put the Bulldogs up against local rival, the Green River Gators on Friday evening. The game started tough for Bellevue with the Gators jumping out to an early lead. Once again, Bellevue persisted and worked to overcome the early deficit taking a commanding half time lead at 33-21. In the second half it was more of the same as Bellevue
continued to build their lead and finished the first round matchup with a 68-46 victory. The story for the Bulldogs was Courtney Batts, Corinna VanHurston and Rachel Rohrbaugh who would maintain the lead for the Bulldogs, and seal the victory. Five Bulldogs shot in double digits: Sanda Milovic and DeMarea Caples were good for 10 points each; VanHurston and Brittany Barrington scored 12 each; and sophomore Taylor Wofford contributed 14.
Game 2 on Saturday would prove more difficult for the Bulldogs facing another tough opponent from the East Region in Big Bend, a team that is “always well-prepared,” said Bellevue Head Coach Brent Hermanson. True to form, the Bulldogs were in for a battle and went into half time holding on to only a four-point lead, 36-32. In the second half, Milovic and Caples took over against Big Bend’s full court pressure and helped the Bulldogs pull away from the Vikings and put another win in the column for Bellevue with a final score of 80-69. Freshman Caples scored a game-high 26 points, while Barrington and Courtney Batts helped Bellevue control the ball throughout the second half. Milovic netted 18 points, while Kelsey Sparks added another 15 for the Bulldogs.
In the championship game Sunday, Dec. 4, the Bulldogs faced Blue Mountain who had won their earlier games against Umpqua on Friday by a score of 78-70, then beat Highline CC on Saturday, 73-67. The Bulldogs and BMCC Timberwolves traded baskets throughout the first half, but neither team was able to get a significant lead, rolling up to half time with only six points separating the teams as Bellevue led 37-31. In the end the depth of the Bulldogs bench would be the difference in the game, eventually outscoring the Timberwolves 12-4, and giving Bellevue their second tournament win 66-61. Milovic led the Bulldogs with 19, while Sparks and Barrington added 11 and 13, respectively. Despite freshman Caples being double and triple-teamed at times, she was still able to add nine points for the Bulldogs.
Bellevue continues to get good minutes from freshmen Barrington and Caples, as well as Jordyn Ohrt, while sophomores like Wofford and VanHurston continue to contribute consistently. Barrington was named to the All-Tournament team and Caples was selected Tournament MVP.
Next up, the Bulldogs travel to Mount Vernon for the three-day NWAACC Crossover Tournament at Skagit Valley College, Dec. 16-18. Bellevue (6-0 overall season) goes up against Spokane (2-4) in the first round Friday, Dec. 16, at 3 p.m.
Last Updated November 1, 2013
