KENNEWICK — The Peninsula College women’s basketball team has advanced to the NWAC tournament championship game after thumping No. 1-ranked Upmqua 84-70 on Monday night at the Toyota Center.
The Pirates will play Lane on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. The Titans are the only team to beat Peninsula twice this season.
Freshman Zhara Laster flirted with a triple-double in Monday’s upset of the Riverhawks, recording 14 points, 12 rebounds and eight assist to go along with a team-high three steals.
Gabi Fenumiai also had a double-double for the Pirates with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Madison Pilster topped Peninsula in scoring with 18 points, including 4 of 11 shooting from 3-point range, while Whitney Nemelka, after being held scoreless in the first two games of the tournament, came off the bench to score 13 points and making three of her four 3-point attempts.
Cierra Moss and Miranda Schmillen also put up double-digits in scoring with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Peninsula men fall in semifinals
The Pirates’ underdog run though the NWAC tournament was halted with a 69-57 loss to top-ranked Edmonds.
Peninsula kept the game close until the closing minutes when the Tritons pulled away.
Jal Deng and Chris Reis led Peninsula with 11 points apiece.
PIrates men will face Green River in the third-place game Tuesday at 2 p.m.
Edmonds will meet Clark for the NWAC championship at 8 p.m.
