PORT ANGELES — Peninsula College finished some light housekeeping before the real party started — celebrating the women’s basketball team’s fourth consecutive Northwest Athletic Conference North Region title with a net-cutting ceremony.
The Pirates (14-0, 22-2) sealed up the division crown last week with a win against Skagit Valley but chose to wait until after turning the scoreline against Shoreline into a 91-19 palindrome Wednesday night.
Peninsula jumped out to a 15-0 lead to open the game, led 46-10 at halftime and pitched a third-quarter shutout (26-0) in the rout.
It was Peninsula’s second straight unbeaten tour through North Division foes and the program’s 40th consecutive NWAC North victory, a streak dating back to a 65-55 loss to Shoreline on Jan. 14, 2023.
“For our sophomores, it means everything. They never lost a region game,” head coach Alison Crumb said.
Crumb said it’s incredibly difficult to go undefeated in region because it requires consistency each game.
“It speaks to our mentality and consistency each and every night,” she said. “I’m super proud of this group.”
Super substitute Alecsis Smith led all scorers with 19 points in 17 minutes, knocking down 7-of-11 shots and grabbing seven rebounds and four steals.
Smith has reached double figures in scoring in each of the Pirates’ last four contests after returning from an injury that saw her miss nine league games.
Sequim sophomore Jelissa Julmist added a double-double with 11 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals.
Forks sophomore Kadie Wood earned her starting spot and Wood had 10 points, four steals, four rebounds and an assist.
Tournament foe
Peninsula also learned its Sweet 16 opponent in the NWAC Women’s Basketball Championship.
The Pirates will face South No. 4 seed Chemeketa (19-10) at noon in the women’s tournament opener on Wednesday at Columbia Basin College in Pasco. A win and Peninsula would advance to a 2 p.m. Elite 8 matchup on Thursday.
The Final 4 and title game are set for March 15-16.
Peninsula 91, Shoreline 19
Shoreline 6 4 0 9 — 19
Peninsula 23 23 26 19 — 91
Peninsula (91) — Smith 19, Agasiva 14, Mackey 11, Julmist 11, Patrick 11, Wood 10, Miller 5, Jackson 4, Moananu 3.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at sports@ peninsuladailynews.com.
Jay Cline/Peninsula College Athletics Peninsula College’s Ciera Tugade Agasiva looks to pass along the baseline during the Pirates’ Sophomore Night victory over Shoreline on Wednesday.
Jay Cline/Peninsula College Athletics The Peninsula College women’s basketball team and head coach Alison Crumb celebrate its fourth straight NWAC North Division championship, and eighth league title in program history.
