The Centralia College women’s basketball team overcame a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter Saturday at home, only to lose in the final 30 seconds in a 61-59 loss to Clark College.
“This is one we will want back when we look back later in the season,” CC coach Tiffany Twiddy said.
The Blazers went into the fourth quarter down 43-33, and the gap became 15 points with 7:43 to go. In the next five minutes, though, CC went on a run to chip away at the lead, eventually going ahead 57-56 on a pair of Madison Gore free throws with 1:51 left. Clark came back, before Foai Pula made a layup to make it 59-58 to the hosts with 43 seconds on the clock.
Clark missed from long range on its next possession, but came down with an offensive rebound and scored on the second chance to go ahead 60-59. CC missed a layup on its next trip down the floor, and while the Penguins could only hit one of two free throws down the stretch, the Blazers wouldn’t score again.
Maya Barnett led the Blazers with 18 points and also had seven rebounds and four assists. Pula and Gore added 14 points apiece, and Pula led the way on the glass with nine boards.
Centralia College will host Mt. Hood on Tuesday.