Not even 24 hours after recording their first win in 18 years at the NWAACC Tournament, the Clark College women’s basketball team ran into the league’s No. 1 team.
South Division champ and NWAACC No. 1-ranked Clackamas (24-4) built a big lead in the first half and kept up the pace throughout for a 68-39 quarterfinal victory over Clark on Sunday at the Toyota Center in Kennewick.
Clark (16-12) didn’t have long savor its 84-68 win over Whatcom from late Saturday night before turning its attention to the next big challenge some 19 hours later.
“There’s a reason Clackamas has been No. 1 all year,” Clark coach Al Aldridge said. “They had a lot to door with our poor performance.”
Long scoring droughts highlighted the first half as Clackamas held Clark without a basket for 8 1/2 minutes at one point, leading 17-7.
The lead would grow to as much as 14 in the first half at 23-9 and as much as 37 in the second half at 65-28 with 3:53 to play.
Clark shot just 33 percent from the field and made only one of 15 3-point attempts.
“They took our shooters out of the game,” Aldridge said. “We were sluggish.”
The result was a far cry from the first time these team played back in December when Clackamas won at Clark 75-71.
Both teams had since added another key player, but the ultimate outcome was the same.
Toni Doroha and Chelsea Karvia both led Clark in scoring with eight points. Andrea Smith and Tanya Martin had six rebounds apiece.
Sade Elliot led Clackamas with 18 points, and Laci Effenberger had 14.
Clark moves into the fifth-place semifinal of the double-elimination tournament where it will play East Division champion Walla Walla (24-4) at 4 p.m. Monday. Walla Walla lost to North No. 2 Skagit Valley 56-51.
Clark and Walla Walla also met in December with Walla Walla posting an 80-66 win in Vancouver.
“Everyone is different now,” Aldridge said.
(Click here for boxscore)
(Click here for women’s NWAACC bracket)
