(Pasco, WA) – The Lower Columbia women's basketball team couldn't get back to the mountain top in 2023, but it wasn't for lack of trying.
The Devils made it to the Sweet 16 but were turned away by Walla Walla 68-41 March 9
th at the NWAC Championships in Pasco.
The defending champs got off to a slow start against the Warriors, trailing 17-8 after the first quarter. Down 31 to 23 at the half, the Devils were able to get the deficit to just two points with an 8-0 run in the first four minutes of the third quarter.
Walla Walla responded with a 15-0 run to take back control. LCC went seven minutes in the third quarter without scoring.
Shooting was the Achilles heel for this year's Red Devil squad. LCC was 14-61 from the floor (23%) and 1 for 21 from three-point range (4.8%) against Walla Walla.
Pressure defense was never a problem for this LCC team as the Devils forced the Warriors into 22 turnovers, as opposed to just eight miscues for LCC.
The Walla Walla bench outscored the Lower Columbia reserves 32-8.
Aivine Soakai led LCC with 12 points.
Katelynn Forner had 10 points, six rebounds and three steals.
Courtney Swan hit the lone three and finished with nine points.
The departing sophomores have nothing to hang their head about. They were key contributors to last year's NWAC title, the first in school history. Forner,
Paige Mace,
Katie Hanson and
Caitlin Wachmann will always be remembered as champions who made the Red Devil Nation proud.
Head coach
Lucas Myers despite the Sweet 16 loss is proud of the way the team battled through adversity this season. He is looking for recruits to come in and provide a good mix with returners Swan,
Bailee Larson,
Macy Fuller,
Kyla McCallum,
Lexi Roberts,
Megan Alley and
Kaylin Todd.
