Lady Vikes Hold Off Columbia Basin for Key Region Victory

Coming off a thrilling road win against Spokane Falls CC, the Big Bend Lady Vikings returned home on Saturday, January 18th, to face the Columbia Basin College Hawks in a high-stakes NWAC matchup. Known for their strong starts this season, the Lady Vikes wasted no time setting the tone, racing out to a 17-9 lead after the first quarter.

The second quarter proved more competitive, as the Hawks found their rhythm offensively. Despite CBC's push, Big Bend extended their advantage, heading into halftime with a 41-32 lead.

Looking to close out the game in the second half, the Lady Vikes came out sluggish, allowing the Hawks to chip away at their lead. By the end of the third quarter, BBCC's advantage had dwindled to just six points. Columbia Basin continued to outscore the Lady Vikes in the fourth quarter, but Big Bend's resilience shone through as they held on for a hard-fought 68-64 victory.

Kaliyah Evans led the way for BBCC with 19 points on an efficient 7-of-11 shooting night. Oaklie Jackman dominated in the paint, collecting a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, further solidifying her presence as a key contributor for the Lady Vikes.

Head Coach Preston Wilks reflected on the gritty win:
"Today was a real test for us. We knew CBC is a very good defensive team—one that really gets after you and is capable of taking you out of your offensive game. I thought we did a decent job tonight; we had 14 total turnovers, which is good considering how they trap and put pressure on you for the entire 40 minutes.

We were excited to see three of our freshmen players step up and play great in a tough region game tonight—Evans, Homer, and Jackman all made a big impact. While there were a lot of smiles and happy faces in the locker room after the win, we wrapped up the celebration with a team cheer of 'climbing,' reminding ourselves to come in Monday ready to work together, improve our weaknesses, and build on our strengths."

The Lady Vikes, now riding momentum, will host the Yakima Valley Yaks on Wednesday, January 22nd, at 5:00 PM in the DeVries Activity Center. Fans can expect another exciting matchup as Big Bend looks to continue climbing toward their season goals.