WALLA WALLA -  Big Bend Community College (BBCC) women's basketball took one on the chin Friday as the Lady Vikings dropped a road game to Walla Walla, 85-76.

The loss drops the team to 3-4 in the NWAACC and 13-7 overall.

"The ladies played a very good offensive game, which was good to see since we have not been shooting the ball well lately," coach Preston Wilks said. "This past week we really focused on shooting contested shots in practice, and I felt like that emphasis helped with our focus in this game. We wanted to come out and play two solid halves and we did, offensively."

The teams played even ball in both halves of the game as the Warriors took a 37-30 lead into the locker room at intermission. BBCC put a scare into Walla Walla in the second half of play as the Vikings knocked down 46 points to the Warriors 48.

BBCC did well to hang with second place Walla Walla (5-1,14-4) despite not having their leading scorer and All-East region center Alli Nielsen at full strength. She had been sidelined with an injury, but returned for this game.

"In the win-loss column it's been rough lately, but we have been playing with-out Alli," Wilks said. "But the past four games we have been able to see a great improvement in Jazlyn Nielsen, and I believe the way she played during this stretch has given her a confidence that will allow us to have another weapon inside heading into the second half of league play. It could turn out to be a real blessing for us to have her playing the way she is now."

The Lady Vikings open up the second half of league play on the road at Spokane Wednesday, and then play three home games in a row starting with Yakima Valley College Saturday at 2 p.m.