Walla Walla Opens Title Defense with 60-46 Win Against Olympic
PASCO, Wash. — Defending champions Walla Walla leaned on its defense to defeat Olympic 60-46 in Game 7 of the 2026 NWAC Women's Basketball Championship, presented by ICCU, on Saturday night at Columbia Basin College.
The first quarter began with the Warriors taking an early lead thanks to Addy Laible's scoring prowess in the paint. Laible quickly amassed a trio of layups in the opening minutes, effectively setting the pace. Olympic responded with a jumper from Carmayla Jackson at 7:51, but WWCC maintained momentum with contributions from Hadley Fraas, who added both a jumper and a layup. Averee Osterhout extended Walla Walla's lead to 21-12 with a three-pointer at the 46-second mark. The home team capitalized on strong assists, recording eight total, to end the quarter with a nine-point advantage.
WWCC maintained a strong lead throughout the second quarter, although Olympic showed resilience with a late surge. Ella Johnson's jumper at 7:51 extended the Warriors' advantage to 23-14. Laible further strengthened the lead with a layup at 6:25, marking the team's largest lead of 11 points. Olympic's Briella Herron responded with a fast-break layup at 4:26, narrowing the gap, and Kanzas Mills followed with a three-pointer at 1:08, bringing Olympic within six points. Despite Olympic's efforts, Walla Walla held a 29-22 lead at the end of the quarter, capped by two free throws from Osterhout with 8 seconds remaining.
The Warriors extended their lead in the third quarter, outscoring Olympic 19-14. Carmayla Jackson opened the quarter with a layup for Olympic, narrowing the gap to 29-24. However, Laible responded with a layup at 9:12, helping Walla Walla maintain its advantage. Fraas was instrumental, contributing several key baskets and free throws, including a pair of free throws with 59 seconds left to push the lead to 48-36. Olympic attempted to rally with 3-pointers from Cesaria Pelagio and Nevaeh Thew, but the Warriors' defense, highlighted by Fraas' rebounding, kept Olympic at bay.
WWCC maintained its lead in the fourth quarter to secure a 60-46 victory over Olympic. Logan Sailors contributed a crucial layup at 5:53, extending Walla Walla's lead to 14 points. Fraas added consistent scoring with a layup and multiple free throws, ending with two free throws at 1:16 that further solidified the lead. Despite a late attempt by Olympic's Nashayla Fellows with a layup at 0:37, the Warriors' defensive efforts, including key rebounds and steals, helped close out the game effectively.
Fraas led the Warriors with a standout performance, scoring 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting, and demonstrated strong defensive skills with 14 rebounds. Laible contributed 16 points, effectively hitting 7 of her 8 field goal attempts and grabbing 7 rebounds. Osterhout showcased her playmaking ability with 6 assists and added 5 points, hitting a three-pointer and converting on 2 free throws.
Mills stood out with a solid defensive performance, recording two blocks and three steals. Pelagio was a key contributor with a team-high 14 points, also leading in steals with five, and securing eight rebounds. Thew added to the defensive efforts with two steals and contributed seven points and six rebounds.
The Warriors will next face South Region No. 2 seed Lane in the Elite 8 on Sunday at 4 p.m. in a rematch of the 2025 championship game. Olympic finishes a solid season with an 18-11 record, taking fourth place in the North Region.