PASCO, Wash. — The Lane Titans Women's Basketball team defeated the Green River Gators Thursday afternoon to advance to the NWAC Final Four.
This is their fifth straight trip to the Final Four and their 17th in program history.
In a rematch of the 2023 NWAC Chamionship game, in which the Titans emerged victorious 72-52, Lane forced a similar result.
Both offenses started slow, and the Titans found themselves trailing 10-9 after a pair of threes from the Gators nearing the end of the first quarter.
A quick run put the Titans up five until a buzzer beating three by Green River trimmed the lead to two at the end of the first quarter.
The Titans scored nine unanswered early in the second quarter and led 26-17.
Both teams traded buckets but a three pointer to beat the buzzer by Micah Wicks pushed the lead to 13 for the Titans, their largest of the game.
Wicks found herself on triple-double alert early, as she had 10 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists at the half.
Lillee Duffin continued her impressive play inside with 10 points and 9 rebounds at the break.
The third quarter belonged solely to the Titans and proved to be the separator.
Defensive pressure from Kya Kanoho and Alessa Soto led to easy baskets for Lane, as their lead ballooned to 27 midway through the third quarter.
Emma McDonald scored 14 of her 22 points in the quarter.
Alessa Soto has also raised her play so far in the NWAC Tournament, scoring 11 points and securing 5 rebounds off the bench, while making game-changing plays on defense.
The Titans pushed their lead to as much as 38 points as they take the game in dominating fashion 75-50.
Lane advances to the NWAC Final Four next weekend, again in Pasco, Washington, to take on a tough Peninsula Pirates team on Saturday, March 14th.
Lane Community College educates over 15,000 students annually at six locations across Lane County and online. Students and alumni from all 50 states and 79 countries create more than an $675 million dollar impact on the local economy, helping to support more than 8,900 local jobs. Lane provides affordable, quality, professional technical and college transfer programs; business development and employee training; academic, language and life skills development; and lifelong personal development and enrichment courses.