Pirates Erase 14-Point Deficit to Defeat TVCC 70-66
PASCO, Wash. — Peninsula (23-4, 14-0) overcame 1 14-point second quarter deficit to edge out Treasure Valley (18-11, 9-5), 70-66 in Game 6 of the 2026 NWAC Women's Basketball Championship, presented by ICCU, on Saturday afternoon at Columbia Basin College.
The No. 4 seed Chukars came out of the gate firing as they led by as many as 14 points with 5:50 to play. Peninsula went on a late run to trail just 35-33 at halftime, eventually taking the lead in third quarter. Alecsis Smith was dominant in the paint, recording 25 points on 11-for-15 shooting to go with nine rebounds. The Pirates struggled throughout the game shooting free throws, making just 14-for-28. However, Makena Patrick and Ryana Moss came through in the clutch final minute to knock down all four to help secure the victory.
The game began with Peninsula's Smith scoring a layup at 9:42 to put the home team on the board. Treasure Valley quickly responded, with Lilly Mallory tying the score with a layup, and Rylie Calkins adding another bucket to give the Chukars an early lead. The No. 4 seed maintained its momentum, extending its advantage to nine points at one stage, supported by Lucy Richards' three-pointer at the 5:59 mark. The Pirates' Aspen Fraser came off the bench, scoring multiple points, including a free throw with 3:56 remaining to narrow the gap. Richards sank another three-pointer, solidifying the TVCC's lead 22-15 entering the second quarter.
TVCC established a strong lead early in the second quarter, with Kamberlynn Starley scoring a layup at 9:43 to increase its advantage. The Pirates struggled initially, missing several free throws, but found momentum with Smith's layup at 7:52, assisted by Malia Garcia. Ryana Moss led a comeback effort for the Pirates with consecutive three-pointers at 2:08 and 1:34, narrowing the gap. In the final seconds, Aspen Fraser hit two free throws at 0:10, bringing the Pirates within two points, as the quarter ended with the Chukars holding a 35-33 advantage.
The Pirates surged ahead in the third quarter with a strong performance from Smith, who contributed two layups, the first tying the score at 37 apiece at 8:59. Kimberlee Brown added a three-pointer at 7:03, assisted by Haley Ostrander, to give the Pirates a 40-37 lead. Grace Hogan responded for the Chukars with a three-pointer at 3:08, narrowing the gap to 44-42. Despite Treasure Valley's efforts, the Pirates maintained their lead, ending the quarter ahead at 47-44, capitalizing on defensive stops and clutch free throws from Smith in the closing minutes.
In a closely contested fourth quarter, the Pirates managed to edge past TVCC with a 70-66 victory. Smith contributed significantly with multiple layups, including one at 00:51 assisted by Moss, pushing the Pirates to a narrow lead. Patrick further extended the lead with a crucial layup at 00:23 and secured the win with a pair of free throws with 13 seconds remaining. Despite Treasure Valley's late efforts, including a layup by Hogan with 7 seconds left, the Pirates maintained their composure to close out the game as Moss hit the final two free throws.
Smith's dominant game was complemented by Fraser, who contributed 15 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks off the bench. Patrick also had a big day on the boards, securing 13 rebounds while adding seven points. Moss provided versatility with 10 points, four assists, and two steals.
Mallory stood out for the Chukars, leading the team with 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting with five rebounds. Ava Cuff added 11 with four rebounds. Hogan matched Cuff's scoring output with 11 points, adding seven rebounds and three assists to her performance. Richards was a key player on the boards, securing 12 rebounds, while also scoring 11 points with three steals.
The Pirates will make their sixth straight trip to the NWAC Elite Eight with the victory, next facing Umpqua on Sunday at 2 p.m. Treasure Valley completes a strong season with an 18-11 record, placing fourth in the tough East Region.