SPOKANE, Wash. — Despite a powerful performance from sophomore forward Emily Peabody, the Clark College Penguins showed resilience throughout Wednesday night's NWAC matchup but ultimately fell 72–57 on the road against the Spokane Sasquatch.
Peabody was the engine of the Penguins' offense, pouring in a game-high 27 points on 9-for-21 shooting while adding 13 rebounds and knocking down a three-pointer. Her aggressiveness attacking the rim kept Clark within reach throughout a physical contest and allowed her to shoot 8-for-11 from the foul line.
Mia Hicks-Oliver added another strong contribution for Clark, finishing with 18 points, 7 boards, and a steady 6-for-7 showing at the free-throw line. The sophomore guard provided early scoring to help the Penguins hang close after the first quarter, where Clark trailed 25–17.
Clark struggled to find rhythm from beyond the arc, finishing just 1-for-15 from three, but continued to grind inside and at the foul line, going 18-for-31 on free throws.
Yazmin Rios added 5 points and 5 rebounds while providing toughness on the defensive end, and Rakyah Clayton brought energy off the bench, contributing important defensive possessions and handling the Spokane pressure well in her 25 minutes of action.
After a slow second quarter in which the Penguins scored just eight points, Clark responded after halftime with renewed intensity, outscoring Spokane 13–10 in the third. But Spokane's balanced scoring and hot shooting proved too much to overcome in the fourth quarter.
Still, Clark closed the game strong, putting up 19 points in the final frame, showing the grit and late-game persistence that head coach and staff can build on moving forward.
The loss moves Clark to 0–1 in early-season play, with several positives emerging from the opener: strong interior scoring, competitive rebounding, and standout efforts from the team's veteran core.
The Penguins return to action later this week as they continue their early-season road stretch, looking to translate Wednesday's bright spots into their first win of the year.
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