Cougars Defeat Lower Columbia 66-58 to Earn First Spot in NWAC Championship Game
PASCO, Wash. — Clackamas moved one step closer to an unbeaten season, defeating Lower Columbia 66-58 in a back-and-forth contest in Game 13 of the 2026 NWAC Women's Basketball Championship, presented by ICCU, on Friday at Columbia Basin College.
Featuring two region champions, the Cougars advanced to Sunday's championship game as they leaned on their defense on Friday and their top-two scorers. Without South Region MVP Alana Washington for the first time this season, it was her twin sister Mae Washington and teammate Mollie Miller who each stepped up in a big way. Washington dropped a season-high 24 points while also pulling down 15 rebounds for a big double-double. Miller had 22 points and four assists. The Cougars also limited LCC to 36.7 percent shooting for the game including 5-for-24 on three point attempts.
The first quarter saw Clackamas and Lower Columbia locked in a tightly contested battle, ending in a 17-17 tie. Miller got the Cougars on the board with a 3-pointer at 9:14, assisted by Washington. Washington added a layup and a jumper midway through the quarter, helping Clackamas maintain its competitive edge. LCC countered with Adrian Wright's layup at 9:33 and Angelica Askey's 3-pointer at 9:01. The quarter closed with a balanced exchange of scores, including a 3-pointer by Maddy Miramontes for the Cougars at 3:03 and a jumper by Askey for the Red Devils at 2:09.
The Cougars extended their lead in the second quarter, highlighted by Washington's strong performance. Washington scored a layup at 7:13 and later connected on a 3-pointer at 5:29, pushing Clackamas to a 24-17 advantage. LCC responded with Wright's layup and Askey's two free throws, but the Cougars maintained their edge. Grace Hayashida added a free throw at 1:43, and Clackamas concluded the quarter with a 27-24 lead, aided by stout defensive efforts, including a block by Hayashida in the final second.
Miller opened the third quarter as she opened the first quarter with a 3-pointer, assisted by Hayashida, to extend the Cougars' lead. LCC responded with a 3-pointer from Regan Brewer, narrowing the margin. Despite the Red Devils' efforts, the Cougars maintained control, with Washington securing the final points of the quarter with a jumper, ending the quarter 45-41 in favor of Clackamas.
In the final quarter, the Cougars closed out the victory thanks in larger part to going 10-for-14 at the free throw line. Washington opened the quarter with a jumper, assisted by Hayashida, setting the tone for Clackamas. Brezlyn Schwalm had two big 3-pointers, pushing the Cougars to a nine-point lead at 8:47. Miller was pivotal in the closing moments, knocking down multiple free throws to maintain Clackamas' lead and close out the win.
Washington and Miller combined for 46 of the team's 66 points to lead them to the final on Sunday. Hayashida excelled in ball distribution, leading the team with eight assists to go with four rebounds and two blocks. Schwalm had nine points while Pepper Smith had nine rebounds.
Askey led Lower Columbia with 17 points and six rebounds. Brewer demonstrated her playmaking skills, contributing a team-high five assists, while also adding eight points and securing three rebounds. Wright added to the offensive efforts with 15 points, adding four rebounds. On the defensive end, Shailoh Li'ili'i dominated the boards, pulling down 13 rebounds with eight points. Lastly, Jaci Gonnie provided a balanced effort with 10 points, to go with five rebounds.
Clackamas looks to capture its third-ever NWAC Championship on Sunday as they take on defending champions Walla Walla at 3 p.m. The Cougars will also hope to complete the first undefeated season with a tournament title in NWAC women's basketball history since 1998 when Skagit Valley went 32-0. Lower Columbia finishes another great season with a 25-5 overall record, winning the West Region title and a Final Four finish.