Lane’s Big 4th Quarter Leads to Finals Return, Defeating CBC 71-59

PASCO, Wash. – The Lane Titan's used a 25-9 advantage in the fourth quarter to defeat the Columbia Basin Hawks 71-59 in the Final 4 of the NWAC Women's Basketball Championship, presented by Golf Universe, on Saturday night at Columbia Basin College.

After a back-and-forth first three quarters that featured seven lead changes, the Titans (29-2) finally broke through in the fourth quarter with a huge 25-9 advantage to knock off the host Hawks. Trailing by four entering the fourth, Lane used a 12-2 run over the first five minutes to take a six point lead. Guard Emma McDonald was instrumental in the fourth as she went 4-for-4 on three point attempts, scoring 15 of her 22 points.

In the only matchup featuring a No. 1 seed, the South Region and East Region champions squared off in front of an energetic crowd. Each team traded punches through the first three quarters, with neither team taking full control until the fourth quarter. Lane was 5-for-18 from beyond the arc until the fourth quarter while CBC had connected on 7-for-19 three pointers until they hit a dry spell, going 0-for-8 in the fourth.

The guard pair of McDonald and Wicks led the way for Lane. Wicks led all players with 26 points, keeping Lane in the game for much of the first three quarters. McDonald finished with 22 points while Brook Stookey had a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds.

The Hawks (25-3) were led offensively by Aniyah Heavens who had 15 points and nine rebounds. Erin Morgan had 14 points and nine boards while Lexie Heath added 11 points.

The Titans will look to win back-to-back titles on Sunday as they go for their NWAC-best seventh championship, all under head coach Greg Sheley since 2006. They will take on region rival Umpqua, who finished second in the South Region, on Sunday at 4:45 p.m. at Holden Court.