2023-2024 Season Closes With Win Over Whatcom

Everett, WA – The Trojans concluded the 2023-2024 season on a high note Wednesday night with a 78-73 win on the road at Whatcom CC.  Despite being eliminated from the NWAC post season, Everett played with purpose and opened up a big first quarter lead that was led by Ashlee Kluin's 7 points and three offensive rebounds.  The team shot 50% from the floor and took a commanding 22-10 lead after one quarter of play.  Shooting cooled off in the second quarter for EvCC, but they still managed to score 13 points and keep an eight point lead going into the half. 

Both teams shot over 40% in the 3^rd quarter and totaled 42 points.  Baylor Thomas led all scorers in that 3^rd period with 9 points, hitting a three and making four free throws.  As a team the Trojans got to the line 10 times, which was the key, and made 80%, extending their lead to 10 heading into the final quarter.

Whatcom outscored the Trojans by five in the 4^th, but the Trojans were able to keep pace and hold onto the win.  Thomas finished the game with 29 points, tying her 4^th highest scoring total this season.  Three other Trojans scored in double figures, Jada Andresen who made three threes, and finished with 15 points, 4 assists, and 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. Ashlee Kluin had 13 points and 9 rebounds, while fellow sophomore Ashlynd Hunt scored in double figures for the 4^th time this season and had 13 points on 4 of 8 shooting, making all four free throw attempts and adding 9 rebounds.    

Everett improved their record from a season ago, winning 4 conference games and going 11-17 on the season.  Several Trojans had standout seasons statistically including Baylor Thomas who set the EvCC all-time record for the most free-throws made in a single season with 207.  She also shot 77.2% from the line which is the 7^th highest percentage at EvCC (over 100 attempts).  Despite only having played the one season, Thomas also has the 2^nd highest career free throws made at EvCC and her 642 total points scored ranks 2^nd all-time at EvCC in a single season.  Her points per game average of 22.9 led the entire NWAC and that season average is 4^th all-time at Everett.

Freshman Jada Andresen caught fire a number of times this season from beyond the arc, hitting a total of 77 three's this season.   That number ranks 3^rd all-time at EvCC, and she was also 2^nd in the NWAC in three pointers made this season.  Her season high came on February 7^th in the rivalry game against Edmonds where she hit 6 three's on 12 attempts.  Over a four game stretch Jada made at least five three's in each of those games, making 41% of her attempts.

Sophomores Jayda Pittman, Ashlynd Hunt, Ashlee Kluin, and Ella Curry finished out their Trojan careers.  Pittman had a career high 15 points last season against Peninsula; Hunt finished with a career average 5.2 points per game, highlighted by a 15 point performance earlier this season in the win over Highline; Kluin averaged 5.0 points per game this season, and had a double-double performance with 10 points and 10 rebounds in the Highline victory; Ella Curry steadily improved over her career and averaged 4.1 points per game in the final 10 games of the season.  Her career high was obtained in the game against Olympic this season where she scored 10 points on 5-8 shooting while also grabbing 6 rebounds.      

As a team, the Trojans made 168 three's this season, which is the 7^th most highest total made in program history, but the most impressive stat was how well the Trojans attacked the rim and were able to get to the free throw line.  The team shot 676 free throws, second only to the 1997-1998 team that shot 680 free throws.  This year's squad however, topped the 97-98 team in making 458 free throws, a new program record.  They also shot 67.8% as a team, which is the 4^th highest mark all time at EvCC.