Local players make impact for women’s basketball programs

Southwest Washington has become a hotbed of sorts for women’s college basketball, with five locals playing for Division I programs.

Two of those standouts were on the same court last week as conference rivals.

Cherita Daugherty, the 2015 Columbian All-Region player of the year at Prairie High School, was playing for Southern Utah as the Thunderbirds traveled to play Idaho, which featured 2019 All-Region player of the year, Beyonce Bea from Washougal High.

Bea and the Vandals got the better of Southern Utah, beating the Thunderbirds 69-64 and 77-61.

Other Division I players like Brooke Walling (Prairie High/Fresno State), Madison Freemon (Camas/Cal State Fullerton) and Jessica Chatman (Union/Utah State) have been playing games since December.

Other players at lower levels of college basketball are just starting their seasons.

Here is a look at local women’s college basketball players this season.

Beyonce Bea (Washougal), Idaho

Bea has appeared in all 10 of the Vandals’ games, averaging 15.1 points and 8.4 rebounds a game. She had a career-high 33 points on Dec. 21 in a win over Seattle University. She had 13 points and four rebounds and 15 points and six rebounds in wins over Southern Utah last week. This week: Idaho (6-4, 5-1 Big Sky) plays at North Colorado on Thursday and Saturday.

Cherita Daugherty (Prairie), Southern Utah

Daugherty has appeared in all seven games for the Thunderbirds, averaging 11.4 points and 6.3 rebounds a game. She had a season-high 19 points on Dec. 12 against Grand Canyon. Last week, she scored 18 and 3 points in losses at Idaho. This week: Southern Utah (3-4, 0-2 Big Sky) had two games against Eastern Washington canceled.

Madison Freemon (Camas), CS Fullerton

Freemon has appeared in six of seven games for the Titans. She is averaging 1.7 points and 1.0 rebounds a game. She scored four points against UNLV (Dec. 2) and UC Santa Barbara (Jan. 1). This week: Cal State Fullerton (0-7, 0-4 Big West) host UC Davis on Friday and Saturday.

Brooke Walling (Prairie), Fresno State

Walling has appeared seven games for the Bulldogs. She is averaging 4.6 points and 3.0 rebounds a game. She had a season-best 13 points against Wyoming on Jan. 4. She had 10 points and six rebounds against Cal State Bakersfield on Sunday. This week: Fresno State (4-5, 2-2 Mountain West) hosts Nevada on Thursday and Saturday.

Jessica Chatman (Union), Utah State

Chatman has appeared in all eight games for the Aggies. She is averaging 13 points and 8.1 rebounds a game. She had a season-best 189 points and 13 rebounds against Seattle University on Dec. 3. This week: Utah State (4-4, 2-1 Mountain West) plays at San Diego State on Thursday and Saturday.

Parker Esary (Kalama), Providence (Mont.)

Esary has played in all four of the Argonauts’ games. She is average 19.3 points and 7.8 rebounds a game. She had a season high 28 points in an 83-80 win over Carroll College. This week: Providence (2-2, 2-2 Frontier Conference) hosts Rocky Mountain College on Saturday and Sunday.

Regular season has yet to start

Northwest Nazarene: Haley Hanson (Camas)

George Fox: Karli Oliver (Ridgefield), Jordan Ryan (Columbia River), MacKenzie Lewis (Union)

Pacific Lutheran: Alexis Kleven (Kelso), Madison Mosier (Mark Morris)

Multnomah: Payton Wangler (Hockinson), Ka’iulani Warren (Camas)

Oregon Tech: Courtney Clemmer (Camas)

Warner Pacific: Khloe Snair (RA Long)

Season canceled

Central Washington: Cassidy Gardner (Prairie) and Taylor Stephens (La Center)

Western Washington: Mason Oberg (Union)

Humboldt State: Kazee Parks (Skyview)

Willamette: Jasmine Shigeno (Hockinson)

Evergreen State: Madison Early (Mark Morris)