Everett, WA – Four Trojan sophomores suited up on Wednesday night for their final home game in a Trojan uniform. Ashlee Kluin, Ashlynd Hunt, Ella Curry, and Jayda Pittman each committed two seasons to the women's basketball program and have contributed to some magical moments. One other team member was recognized, Baylor Thomas who while technically is a freshman after redshirting her first season at West Virginia State University, will be completing her AA degree this spring and will be moving on academically.
At the conclusion of the sophomore festivities, the Trojans tipped off against the visiting Olympic College Rangers, a team that defeated EvCC in Bremerton back on January 24th. The Rangers connected on 12 made threes, six from Sophie Bronson. The Trojans got to the line 27 times in that game, but only shot 63% and fell 87-74.
Everett had energy in the opening quarter and shot 47% from the floor, opening up a 19-8 lead with 13 big first quarter points from Baylor Thomas who knocked down three, three's. Olympic turned up the defensive pressure and outscored the Trojans 9-3 through the next four minutes of play in the second quarter. After starting the game 0-6 from beyond the arc in the first quarter, the Rangers knocked down three three's in the second quarter and proceeded to outscore the Trojans 22-9 in the second to take a two point halftime lead, 30-28.
The Rangers, who shoot 24% from three on the season, began to catch fire in the 3rd quarter, hitting four threes and had their game average above 45% from downtown. The Trojans were able to have a big offensive quarter, scoring 19 points and matching their first quarter total, but it was their worst quarter defensively and Olympic scored 25 points, extending their lead.
Everett had 8 points of ground to make up starting the fourth quarter and made it happen through the first three minutes, storming back to take a one-point lead on a Baylor Thomas bucket at the rim. With one minute to play the Trojans had a four-point lead. After a defensive stop, the Trojans worked the clock down to 37 seconds, before Jada Andresen was fouled. She calmly sank both free throws and extended the lead to six. Olympic needed more three point magic to pull off the comeback, but could not get the looks they needed in the closing moments. Everett finished the mission on sophomore night and won 75-68. Thomas finished with 22 points, Andresen had 18, and two sophomores had big performances, Ashlynd Hunt with 12 and Ella Curry with 9. Fellow sophomore Ashlee Kluin had 7 points and 12 rebounds.
Everett will close out the season with two road games, traveling to first place Peninsula on Saturday and concluding with Whatcom next Wednesday.