Defense Clamps Down in Trojans Win

Everett, WA – Women's hoops returned to the Walt Price Center for a date with rivals from up north, Skagit Valley College.  After a tough road loss on Saturday to Peninsula College, the Trojans looked to bounce back at home, still holding on to a one game lead over Skagit Valley for 4^th place in the north region standings.  A win over Skagit Valley would give EvCC the inside track in the race for the NWAC playoffs. 

The Cardinals faced an uphill battle with a limited roster due to COVID protocols and only six players suited up.  But they still had four of their top 5 scorers in the lineup and much to play for.  Skagit opened up in a 1-2-2 zone that created some difficulty on the offensive end for the Trojans in the opening minutes of the first quarter falling behind 8-2, but EvCC battled back to take a 13-12 lead by the end of the first quarter buzzer.  Seven Everett turnovers hindered a more productive offensive quarter, but the defense played well forcing 5 turnovers of their own and holding SVC to 0-5 from beyond the arc with pressure on every shot. 

 Skagit Valley continued a variety of defensive looks in the 2^nd quarter and Everett's solid pressure man to man didn't allow either offense to really settle in for the first five minutes.  The Trojans eventually got a balanced scoring attack going as six different players scored in the quarter, putting up another 13 points while holding Skagit to just 9, on just 4 of 17 shooting.  Everett went into the half with a 26-21 lead and Maddie Thoma as the leading scorer with 8.

The Trojans caught fire to open up the second half, and built out to as much as an 18-point lead on three made three-point field goals and another three two-point field goals.  On the defensive end, Everett held Skagit to just two made field goals through nearly seven minutes of action.  Everett closed out the quarter on a 6-2 run in the final three minutes, outscoring the Cardinals 21-8, and taking a 47-29 lead going into the final quarter. 

With the sizeable lead, Everett put the game on cruise control in the 4^th quarter.  The fatigue started to really set in for SVC and Everett won going away 63-39.  As a team the Trojans shot a season high 46.3% from the floor and played one of their best defensive performances holding Skagit to under 30% from the floor.   Maddy Thoma led all scorers coming off the bench, scoring 19 to set a new career high and shot 7 of 12.  Three other Trojans scored in double figures, Sydney VanNess (13), Courtney Perry (12), and Mikail Montez (10). 

The win gives Everett a two-game cushion over Skagit in the standings and puts them in the driver seat approaching the 2^nd half of the season.  The last team to play will be the red-hot Whatcom Orcas who currently sit in first place.  That game is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 12^th at 2pm.