By Oly Archibald
PORT ANGELES — It’s March Madness time tomorrow night for the Peninsula Pirates women’s basketball team as they face the 27–4 defending NWAC champion Walla Walla Warriors at Columbia Basin College in Pasco.
The 24–4 Pirates lost twice to the Warriors earlier this season, but those games may not mean much heading into tomorrow night’s matchup.
In the first meeting — just the Pirates’ second game of the season — Peninsula suited up only seven players at Columbia Basin College and was without Carliese O’Brien and Aspen Fraser.
Peninsula freshman Malia Garcia of Mount Vernon came up big off the bench, scoring 14 points against Umpqua.
The teams met again December 30th at the Lower Columbia College Holiday Tournament, where Walla Walla won again, 69–55. In that game the Pirates shot an ice-cold 30 percent from the field and were just 3 of 16 from three-point range.
This Peninsula team looks much different now after knocking off Treasure Valley in the Sweet 16 and Umpqua in the Elite Eight.
The Pirates’ bench has played a key role, with Haley Ostrander, Aspen Fraser, and Malia Garcia combining for 46 points in the team’s tournament wins in Pasco.
Peninsula freshman Aspen Fraser provides a spark off the bench, averaging 10 points and 7 rebounds per game. Fraser would likely start for most NWAC programs.
Peninsula freshman Kimberlee Brown scored 16 points and knocked down four three-pointers in the Pirates’ win over Umpqua.
Both teams average 71 points per game, but Peninsula has the edge defensively, allowing just 47 points per contest.
Walla Walla is led by 5-foot-5 freshman guard Logan Sailors of Meridian, Idaho, who averages 16 points per game and shoots 33 percent from three-point range.
The Warriors also feature a strong front line with 6-foot-3 sophomore Addy Laible of Boise, averaging 9 points and 7 rebounds, and 5-foot-10 sophomore Hadley Fraas of Meridian, who averages 13 points and 9 rebounds per game.
Legendary coach Bobbi Hazeltine is in her 27th season leading the Warriors. During that time Walla Walla has compiled a 567–183 record, reached the NWAC tournament 24 times, advanced to eight Final Fours, and won four NWAC championships.
Tomorrow night’s game will be broadcast on KONP Newsradio, with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The KONP pregame show begins at 6:45.
Meanwhile, the high school spring sports season is underway, though some events could be affected by rain.
The Port Angeles Roughriders baseball team is scheduled for a 4:00 first pitch at Foss, while the Roughrider boys soccer team is set to play at Steilacoom with a 6:00 kickoff.