MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Lady Vikings (21-2) defeated Walla Walla Community College Warriors 60-46 Saturday. With this win, they sit firmly in first place in the Eastern Region of the Northwest Athletic Conference. Head coach Preston Wilks was ecstatic after the win.   

“In the locker room afterwards. I said, ‘Hey, the biggest lesson that I learned today was just patience,’” Wilks said. “Patience is so critical to winning games, and I knew we were going to be fine, but I don't know if everybody in the stands knew that we were going to be fine, because the fourth quarter has been a special quarter for us this year, and we had a great game plan we put together.”  

The Vikings and the Warriors went back and forth on defense, not allowing each other to find a rhythm offensively. By halftime, Big Bend trailed 19-22. After a pep talk in the locker room, BBCC climbed back into the game to tie it 35-35 heading into the fourth quarter. From there, the Lady Vikings caught fire for 25 points as they pulled ahead for a statement win over Walla Walla.   

“We all were really happy because we knew this was a big game, and so we got the water out and we put it on our coaches. I think we're all just really happy and had a lot of fun,” Brooke Warren said.   

The first half was a low-scoring affair as both teams brought their best defensively. While Walla Walla excelled at getting rebounds, the Vikings created a defensive wall at the other end behind Oaklie Jackman, Saydee Pebley and Ashlynn Purcell. Each had at least one blocked shot, with Purcell logging two for BBCC.   

Trailing 10-6 going into the second quarter, Kaliyah Evans, Jackman and Warren formed a productive trio to put them within three by halftime. During the break, Wilks told his players it was important to improve their rebounding; at the time they trailed by two in the differential with WWCC.   

Wilks told them if they can’t rebound in the second half, it’s likely they don’t win the game. Warren and the Vikings took his message to heart, starting in the third quarter, as they made a push to climb back in the game.   

“We all just bought into that (message), and we all were locked in, and we were able to move the ball quickly, and we were able to make those quick bursts on drives, and then just find the open player, and we were just able to play together as a team,” Warren said.   

In the first half, the Lady Vikings were adjusting to the Warriors’ defense, since they offered one of the bigger challenges they’ve seen this season, said Warren. It was a slow build, but BBCC tied the game 35-35 with threes by Oakley Homer, Evans, Warren and Claire Cox.  

In the fourth quarter, the Vikings found their rhythm offensively to outscore Walla Walla 25-11 to cruise to their 21st win of the season. Warren erupted in the fourth with 13 points, six of which came from the free throw line where she went six for eight. She also knocked down a three-pointer and scored two more points. Her production in the final period allowed her to finish with 24 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. 

“Brooke had an amazing game today,” Wilks said. “She dipped in her performance (recently) and I think that really bugged her, but she's such a competitor that she wasn't going to let that keep her down. Against one of our toughest opponents, one of our biggest games, all year long, she's shown she really shone as bright as you could.  

As a team, the Vikings out-rebounded WWCC 38-28. Evans and Jackman finished top three in rebound for the Vikings with eight and seven.   

With the win, BBCC is solely in first place in the East Region of the NWAC as they head into their final stretch of regular-season games. With five games left, four of which are on the road, the Lady Vikings are focused on carrying this momentum forward and building confidence one game at a time, Wilks said.   

They travel to play Treasure Valley Community College on Feb. 7, but return home Feb. 11 to host Columbia Basin College at 7 p.m.  

Warren shared similar sentiments after their win as well.   

“This is a big win, so I think just knowing that we beat one of the top teams can help us know that we can beat any team as long as we're focused and locked in. That's what we really had to focus on today,” Warren said.   

BOX SCORE:   

WWCC: 10-12-13-11: 46
BBCC: 6-13-16-25: 60 

    The Vikings’ Oakley Homer (12) dives for the ball as both teams compete Saturday. Homer finished with eight points, including two three-pointers in Big Bend Community College’s win over Walla Walla Community College.
  

    Kaliyah Evans (13) shoots a corner three against Walla Walla Community College Saturday.
  

    The Vikings’ Claire Cox (10) drives to the basket against Walla Walla Community College. Cox finished with six points, drilling both of her three-pointers Saturday.
  

    Kaliyah Evans (13) goes for a rebound while Saydee Pebley boxes out against Walla Walla Community College Saturday.
  

    The Vikings’ Ashlynn Purcell (4) shoots a free throw against Walla Walla Community College.