Big 3rd Quarter Sends Hawks to Final 4, Defeat Shoreline 70-60

PASCO, Wash. – After winning on a last-second shot a day prior, the Columbia Basin Hawks earned a double-digit victory defeating the Shoreline Dolphins 70-60 in the Elite 8 of the NWAC Women's Basketball Championship, presented by Golf Universe, on Sunday at Columbia Basin College.

After a close first half in which the Dolphins (21-9) led 31-30, the Hawks (26-2) broke out with a big 21-12 advantage in the third quarter to take an eight-point lead. The Hawks shot 9-for-17 overall in the quarter, while limiting Shoreline to 6-for-16.

The Hawks, who feature one of the best guar combos in the NWAC with Trinidie Nichols and Lexie Heath, leaned on their post play in this game as Kenzi Pedersen led the team with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Aniyah Heavens continued her strong play off the bench posting 13 points and nine boards. Nichols added a nice game of 13 points, six assists and six rebounds while Heath had 12 points, four steals and four boards.

The Dolphins had multiple leads in the first half and had the East Region champion Hawks on their heels. A late foul with less than one second left in the first half cost Shoreline a possible three-point lead and CBC used that momentum coming out of the halftime locker room.

Shoreline got a great game out of Taylor Eldredge who led the way with 19 points, six rebounds and four assists. Alicia Suggs came off the bench to score 16 points with six rebounds.

The Hawks head to back to the Final 4 for the second-straight season. Last year, they fell to Green River in the semifinals. This season, they have their sights set on the title. They will face defending champions Lane in a highly anticipated matchup on Saturday, March 16 at 7 p.m. at Holden Court.