The Clark College women’s basketball team may have started the season slow, but they are finishing strong. Clark clinched a spot in the NWAACC postseason tournament with its 100-67 victory over visiting Tacoma on Saturday at the O’Connell Center.
Clark, which started the season 2-8, can finish no lower than fourth in the West Division. The Penguins are sitting in second place in the division at 11-3 (13-11 overall)with three games to play.
The NWAACC tournament is March 2-5 at the Toyota Center in Kennewick.
“We had an incredible shooting night,” Clark coach Al Aldridge said, noting his shot 63 percent from the field, 50 percent from 3-point range, and 88 percent from the free-throw line. “It was just a great team effort.”
Dominique Johnson led Clark scorers with 25 points. Ashlie Nguyen and Andrea Smith each had 16 points.
Nguyen and Tanya Martin had nine rebounds each as the Penguins outrebounded Tacoma 34-21.
Toni Doroha had 12 points and nine assists for Clark, and Taylor Jackson added 11 points.
Anngelina Sanchez had a game-high 36 points for Tacoma (13-9, 9-5).
(Click here for Saturday’s women’s boxscore)
MEN: Tacoma 93, Clark 87 — The Penguins were eliminated from postseason contention with the loss to Tacoma.
Clark (13-10, 6-8) kept it close against the second-place Titans (18-7, 11-3), trailing by two at halftime and keeping the game within striking distance for much of the second half.
Etienne Boutan and Stanthony Nelmes made key baskets for Clark to get the Penguins within 89-87 with 40 seconds to play.
Phillip Hertz scored 25 points on 9-of-11 shooting for the Penguins. Boutan added 18 points, and Nelms had 16.
Clark’s home schedule concludes on Wednesday as the Penguins host Centralia. Women tipoff at 6 p.m. and the men’s game follows.
(Click here for Saturday’s men’s boxscore)
