Lady Vikings Pick Up Two Wins To Close 2022

The Big Bend women's basketball team came back from the holiday break on a high note. After a thrilling win on December 17th versus South Puget Sound Community College in the NWAC East Region Crossover, hosted by Big Bend, the Lady Vikings rode the same momentum to a 2-1 finish at the Skagit Valley Community College Holiday Classic, held December 28th-30th.

In game one of the event, after sophomore Ambra Hacker coolly knocked down two free-throws with three seconds remaining in regulation to forge a 65-65 tie and send the contest to overtime, sophomore Kassidy Alder's first three-pointer of the contest found the bottom of the net, breaking a 72-all tie with ten seconds remaining in overtime, as Big Bend overcame a 16-4 first quarter deficit to defeat the home-standing Lady Cardinal 75-72. Despite falling behind by as many as 13 points near the end of the third quarter, the never-say-quit Lady Vikings would take their first lead in overtime, setting up the late-game heroics. The inside-out combo of Hacker and sophomore Callie Tollman combined for 52 of the Lady Vikings' 75 points, with Hacker dominating the paint, posting a season-high 28 points on 11-14 shooting to go along with a game-high 14 rebounds, while Tollman was lights-out from deep, knocking down five three-pointers on her way to 24 points. Freshman Macy Hellstern chipped in eight points, but it was her 5-1 assist-to-turnover ratio (ten assists, two turnovers) that fed the Lady Viking offense all night.

On Thursday (December 29th) afternoon against Green River Community College, the Lady Vikings fought from behind the entire contest to take their first lead of the game (50-49) on a three-pointer by Callie Tollman with 8:27 remaining in the game. However, the Lady Vikings could not hold on down the stretch, falling 69-63 to the Lady Gators. For the Lady Vikings, freshman Skylee Hopkins scored 19 points on 6-11 shooting from the field and 3-5 from three-point range, to go along with a game-high nine rebounds. The one-two combo of Tollman (16 points) and Ambra Hacker (14 points) were once again dominate, but 16 floor mistakes will spell defeat for the Lady Vikings.

Friday's (December 30th) contest was an offensive explosion, as the Lady Vikings raced out to a 32-17 lead at the end of the first quarter against Everett Community College, and never looked back, with the game's largest lead of 30 points becoming the final margin of the contest, as the Lady Vikings cruised to a convincing 82-52 win to end the 2022 calendar year. Ambra Hacker remained hot, scoring 24 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, but the shooting of Skylee Hopkins (7-11 from the field, 4-6 from three-point range) brought an added dimension to the Lady Viking offense. Hopkins also led the team with 13 rebounds. Freshman Dakota Killian rounded out the double-figure scoring with 12 points, while Macy Hellstern continued to direct the offense, dishing out 11 assists (to only two turnovers), chipping in nine points, and coming up with five steals.

The Lady Vikings now turn their attention to Eastern Region play, opening up the New Year on the road at Walla Walla Community College in a double-header with the men's team. Tip-off is slated for 5:30pm, with the men to follow at 7:30pm.