In an intense back-and-forth contest that saw both teams trade runs, the Clark women's basketball team was edged out by Lower Columbia, 89-81, on the road Tuesday evening. The loss dropped Clark to 2-1 on the season, while Lower Columbia improved to 3-4.

The game was a shootout from start to finish. Despite a strong individual performance from Clark's Mia Hicks-Oliver, who finished with a game-high 28 points, the Penguins were unable to overcome Lower Columbia's offensive firepower.

First Half: Lower Columbia Takes Early Control

The first half was all about shooting efficiency, with Lower Columbia taking advantage of an explosive first-quarter performance. The Red Devils shot a scorching 56.5% from the field in the opening frame, building a quick 29-18 lead. Clark struggled to match that pace, as they were held to just 8-of-19 shooting in the first period.

Clark did show resilience in the second quarter, narrowing the gap to as little as 6 points, thanks to a strong effort at the free-throw line, where they hit 3 of 9 attempts. However, Lower Columbia answered with balanced scoring from their key players, including Karlee VonMoos, who would go on to score 31 points. Despite Clark's 7-of-15 shooting in the second period, the deficit remained 9 points at the break, 49-40.

Third Quarter: Clark Tries to Rally

The third quarter saw Clark's offense come alive, particularly from the hands of Hicks-Oliver and Emily Peabody. Hicks-Oliver connected on multiple mid-range jumpers and was a constant threat inside, finishing with 10 rebounds in addition to her 28 points. Peabody added 16 points, including a few timely three-pointers, but Clark still found themselves struggling to slow down Lower Columbia's offensive flow.

Karlee VonMoos continued her dominance inside, grabbing 13 rebounds and scoring 17 points through three quarters. Even though Lower Columbia's shooting dipped to 42.1% in the third, the Red Devils' defense was more than enough to maintain their lead, holding Clark to just 22 points in the frame.

Heading into the final quarter, Lower Columbia led 70-62, but Clark wasn't done yet.

Fourth Quarter: Lower Columbia Holds Off Clark's Surge

Clark mounted a strong charge in the final 10 minutes. With 6:00 remaining, the Penguins closed the gap to just 4 points, fueled by a series of fast-break buckets and gritty offensive rebounds. However, Lower Columbia answered every challenge with timely baskets and clutch free throws. VonMoos, who had been near-perfect from the floor (15-20), helped keep the Red Devils' lead comfortable despite a strong late push from Clark.

Lower Columbia finished the game shooting 54.5% overall and 73.7% from the free-throw line, including a perfect 5-of-5 in the final period. Clark, on the other hand, shot 44.4% from the field, but struggled from beyond the arc, converting just 3-of-13 three-pointers (23.1%).

Key Contributions:

• Karlee VonMoos was a force for Lower Columbia, scoring 31 points and grabbing 17 rebounds, proving to be the difference-maker in the win. Despite being held to just 1-of-5 from the free-throw line, she dominated the paint and gave her team the second-chance opportunities they needed to maintain control.

• Mia Hicks-Oliver led Clark with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and a 6-of-8 performance from the charity stripe, but it wasn't enough to overcome Lower Columbia's efficiency.

• Dylan Mann added 14 points for Lower Columbia, including 6-of-8 shooting from the field, while Morgan Hamilton chipped in with 12 points and 4 assists.

• Clark's Payton Allen (13 points) and Emily Peabody (16 points) had solid performances, but the Penguins were outpaced by Lower Columbia's offensive output.

Looking Ahead:

Next up the penguins will travel to Pasco, Washington where they will face Walla Walla and CBC over the upcoming weekend.  Both match-ups will be played on the campus of Columbia Basin.

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