A recent three-game winning streak came to an abrupt end Saturday as the Yakima Valley women's basketball team fell to second-place Walla Walla, 85-56, on the road. A slow start proved to the Yaks' undoing as the Warriors took a 46-23 halftime lead before blowing the game open with a 28-13 run in the third quarter.

Hope Driscoll led the offense with 22 points, including three 3-pointers, and also had five rebounds and two steals. Imani Brown scored 10 and Elaine Rasmussen added nine in a game where YVC had only six players available. With starters Paris Wilson and Faith McCarty out of the lineup, the Yaks shot just 36% (20-of-55) from the field and were outrebounded 47-21.

Last Wednesday at home, YVC defeated Blue Mountain, 72-70, to avenge a one-point loss earlier in the season. Alina Sapilak scored 25 points and added seven rebounds, four assists and three steals, helping the Yaks take an 11-point halftime lead. Wilson added 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists, and McCarty had 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals to help YVC win its third consecutive game.  Abby Gilbert contributed eight points, three rebounds and two steals, and Blake Barbee had four rebounds and three blocked shots in a game where YVC forced 24 turnovers and won the battle of the boards, 35-26.

Yakima Valley remains solidly in the playoff hunt at 5-5 (11-10 overall), tied for fourth place with Blue Mountain and a half-game behind Treasure Valley for third. The Yaks will host the Chukars on Saturday after defeating them by 15 points on the road last week.