Wolves Lose 78-79 in Double OT to Lions
Morgan Doyle, Sports Information Assistant
College Place, Wash. After a tough battle leading to double over time, the Wolves lose 78-79 to Multnomah.
Women's Basketball had a slow start but with seven minutes left the Wolves had gained control of the first quarter. Emily Downs had a jumper putting Walla Walla ahead 8-6, and the Lions' Rachelle Tau followed tying the game up 8-8. 2 free throws from Halversen put the Wolves back on top 10-8 with 2 minutes left, and the Lions didn't see the lead again. Carolina Montes, Alyssa Blaneknship and Emily Downs each had jumpers for the Wolves as they took a 16-10 in the second.
Walla Walla built their lead at the start of the second quarter, starting off with a layup from Downs trailed by a jumper from Garcia. With 5 minutes left the Lions tried to quickly cover the spread with five points from Chinn cutting the lead to 23-17. A layup by Kai Chamberlain gave the Wolves their largest lead of the game of 8 points 27-19. What was once a large lead quickly became a one-point game after 3 consecutive three-pointers from Bethany George followed by a three by Chinn, and the Wolves were down 29-33 going into the half.
Downs started the third quarter with a jumper for Walla Walla. Sarah Halversen and Downs have back to back layups to tie the game with 8 minutes left. A three-pointer by Chamberlain gains the lead for the Wolves 38-35, and the game is neck and neck. The Lions and Wolves battle back and forth and a layup by Blankenship puts the Wolves ahead 45-44 with 45 seconds left in the quarter. In the last 30 seconds, Kraatz had a layup trailed by two three-throws from Valerie Wakefield for Multnomah, putting the Lions ahead 48-45 going into the fourth quarter.
Walla Walla was out for blood in the fourth quarter and starting with a three from Halversen tying the game up 48-48. Montes with a three, followed by Downs with a layup gave the Wolves a 5 point lead with 7 minutes left. Downs had a jumper with 5:30 left and Walla Walla had their longest lead since the second quarter of 7, 55-48. Chinn started a come back for the Lions with a three, and was followed by a layup from Paris Sanders. Chinn nailed a deep three with 1 minute left and the game was tied up 60-60. Both teams had their chance to score, but neither could get it down as the game fell into overtime.
A layup by Kraatz was matched by two three-throws by Montes, keeping the game tied with three minutes left in overtime. Kraatz had a jumper for the Lions putting Walla Walla down two, to which Michaela Garcia answered by making two free throws at the line. Downs had a jumper with two minutes left and the Wolves were up 66-64. A free-throw from Blankenship and three free-throws for the Lions tied the game up at 68 apiece. The last minute became a battle of free throws, and Montes had a layup for the Wolves putting them ahead 72-69. Wakefield quickly followed with a three and the Lions were up 74-71 with 18 seconds left. A three from Garcia tied the game up 74-74, taking Walla Walla into double overtime.
Stanyer started double OT with a jumper, and Wakefield followed with a layup. After a tough battle in the final 30 seconds a 3 by Chinn secured the win for the Lions, 78-79 Multnomah wins.
The Lions were led by Tiara Chinn and Bethany George with 18 points. The Wolves were led by Emily Downs with 19 points and Alyssa Blankenship with 12 points.