The postseason was short-lived for the Centralia College women’s basketball team, losing in the NWAC Sweet 16 against top-seeded Walla Walla 63-29 on Thursday night in Pasco on the campus of Columbia Basin College.
In back-to-back trips to the tournament, the Trailblazers (8-18) went one-and-done as the fourth seed from the West division. The Warriors jumped out to a 14-5 lead after the opening frame and never looked back.
Centralia never got within single digits the rest of the night. It was held to one made field goal in the third quarter despite coughing the ball up just five times.
Kate Carpenter and Ella Baumgartner tallied a team-high 11 points apiece in their final game for the Trailblazers. Those two plus Abi Lundbald and Meletava Fonohea grabbed at least six rebounds and Carpenter recorded five blocks.
Eight sophomores will depart the program, but the 2025-26 group is expected to be anchored by Lundblad and Jazmin Moctezuma, who each started at least 18 games for Centralia.
