LONGVIEW — For the second time in a week, the Peninsula women held off the No. 2-ranked team in the NWAC, Lower Columbia, in a 71-51 win Saturday night.
Much like at the Pirates Classic last week, the Pirates got up big early, then had to fend off a rally from the Red Devils to pull out the win, though in this game, Lower Columbia didn’t get nearly as close.
Lower Columbia beat Peninsula in overtime in the NWAC championship last year and the two squads entered this season as the No. 1 and No. 2 preseason coaches’ picks in the NWAC.
Peninsula got up 19-5 after the first quarter, but then Lower Columbia rallied to make it 34-23 at the half.
The Pirates got a 3-pointer from Tati Kamae in the first 10 seconds of the second half and then a bucket from Ituau Tuisaula in the first 48 seconds of the second half to pull ahead 39-23. Lower Columbia was never able to cut Peninsula’s lead to single digits after that.
Tuisaula led the Pirates with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Millie Long had 24 points, five assists and four steals, while Jenilee Donovan had nine rebounds to go with her five points and Tatie Kamae had 11 rebounds. Adam Kaganak was 2-for-2 on her 3-point shots and finished with nine points.
Port Angeles’ Bailee Larson was 1-for-1 on her 3-pointers for Lower Columbia and finished with three points. Neah Bay’s Courtney Swan also hit a 3-pointer for Lower Columbia, but struggled overall with her shooting from the field.
Peninsula 71, Lower Columbia 51
PC 19 15 20 17 — 71
LC 5 18 13 17 — 51
Peninsula (71) — Tuisuala 26, Long 24, Kaganak 9, Donovan 5, Moss 3, Kamae 2, Vaaia 2.
Lower Columbia (51) — Forner 18, Mace 12, McCallum 4, Soakai 4, Larson 3, Swan 3, Alley 2, Fuller 2.
Peninsula 82, Big Bend 75
MOSES LAKE — The Peninsula women got huge games from Long and Tuisaula and a big third quarter to come from behind to beat Big Bend 82-75 on Friday.
Big Bend scored 26 points in the first quarter and went into the half with a 43-32 lead. The Pirates roared back with a 28-9 third quarter to take control of the game. Peninsula ended up outscoring Big Bend 50-32 in the second half.
Tuisaula had 21 points and 19 rebounds, including 10 offensive rebounds. Long had 25 points and six assists while shooting 13-of-16 on her free throws. Donovan hit three 3-pointers and chipped in 11, while Tati Kamae had six points and 12 rebounds as the Pirates out-rebounded Big Bend 57-40.
Peninsula (5-2) has now won five straight. The Pirates next host Mount Hood (4-3) in Port Angeles at 6 p.m. Friday.
Peninsula 82, Big Bend 75
PC 19 13 28 22 — 82
BB 26 17 9 23 — 75
Peninsula (82) — Long 25, Tuisaula 21, Donovan 11, Kamae 6, Moss 6, Marini 2, Vaaia 2, Brown 2.
Big Bend (75) — Alder 19, Toman 15, Hacker 12, Hopkins 11, Rhoades 7, Fuller 7, Hellstern 4.
