Lady Vikes' Season Ends in Heartbreaking NWAC Tournament Loss

After a spectacular regular season that saw the Lady Vikes amass 23 wins, including an impressive 12-2 record in conference play, Big Bend Community College entered the NWAC Tournament with high hopes. Led by two 1st Team All-Conference selections, Katie Hansen and Oaklie Jackman, and with Jackman also earning Freshman of the Year honors, BBCC aimed to carry their momentum into postseason play.

The Lady Vikes traveled to Columbia Basin College in Pasco, WA, for a first-round showdown against South Puget Sound College. In a win-or-go-home scenario, BBCC sought a strong start but struggled early, shooting just 2-for-21 from the field and an abysmal 0-for-13 from beyond the arc in the opening quarter. Their offensive woes resulted in an 11-6 deficit after ten minutes of play.

BBCC showed slight improvement in the second quarter, increasing their shooting percentage to 33%. However, SPS remained efficient, shooting close to 50% from the field and extending their lead to 34-20 at halftime. With their season on the line, the Lady Vikes looked to reset during the break, hoping for a second-half surge.

Despite their best efforts, BBCC continued to struggle offensively in the third quarter, shooting below 30%. However, they managed to cut the lead to 13 points heading into the final period. Unfortunately, their shooting woes persisted, culminating in a season-ending 57-45 loss. The Lady Vikes shot just 24% from the field and a season-low 3-for-42 from three-point range, a stark contrast to their usual sharp-shooting performances.

Oaklie Jackman capped off her stellar season with another dominant outing, posting a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. However, no other BBCC player reached double figures in scoring.

Head Coach Preston Wilks reflected on the tough loss and the season as a whole:

"Today was a game we felt so good about going into it. We had a rematch against a team that had beat us earlier in the year, which we wanted. This game was eerily similar to our final home game of the year against Walla Walla, in that we just could not buy a bucket. We tried and tried, but for some reason, today was not our day for making 3s. Our defense was great, holding them to under 60 points. But our shooting struggles ultimately sunk our dreams today. I was proud that we ended the season trying our best, and that is what this team did every day all season long. They were such a joy to coach. They all cared so much about their daily effort and had great perspective in that they truly tried to get better each day. This team had one of the best seasons in Lady Vikes history."

Though the season ended sooner than hoped, the Lady Vikes' remarkable campaign will be remembered as one of the best in program history. With young talent like Jackman leading the way, the future remains bright for BBCC women's basketball.