Clark Pulls Away from Mt. Hood Behind Peabody's Double-Double, Defensive Pressure

Clark College leaned on its defense and dominance on the glass Wednesday night, defeating Mt. Hood 59-38 in a grind-it-out NWAC matchup.

In a game where neither team found much rhythm offensively, the Penguins made the plays that mattered most — forcing turnovers, creating second-chance opportunities and turning defensive stops into separation.

Emily Peabody led the way with a powerful double-double, scoring 18 points and pulling down 11 rebounds, including six on the offensive end. Peabody's activity inside helped Clark generate extra possessions and control the tempo throughout the night.

Clark (24-of-73 from the field) didn't shoot lights out at 32.9 percent, but Mt. Hood struggled even more, finishing just 14-of-65 (21.5 percent) and 2-of-20 from three-point range. The Penguins' defensive pressure held the Saints to single digits in multiple stretches and forced 18 turnovers.

Mia Hicks-Oliver added 11 points and nine rebounds, flirting with a double-double of her own while anchoring Clark defensively on the perimeter. Reaiah Hall contributed 10 points, four rebounds and three assists, knocking down all four of her free throw attempts. Ashley Serna chipped in 11 points and seven boards, while Yazmin Rios added six points, three steals and strong on-ball defense.

Clark dominated the hustle categories. The Penguins collected 16 offensive rebounds and matched Mt. Hood with 47 total boards, but made better use of their extra opportunities. Clark also dished out 13 assists and recorded 14 steals, turning defense into transition chances that slowly widened the gap.

Mt. Hood was led by Jordan Zumhofe's 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Gabby Perez-Ramos added eight points. However, the Saints' 10 percent shooting from beyond the arc and 44 percent from the free-throw line prevented them from mounting sustained runs.

Despite shooting just 1-of-16 from three-point range, Clark controlled the paint and stayed aggressive attacking the rim. The Penguins attempted 21 free throws and maintained composure down the stretch to secure the 21-point victory.

With balanced scoring, relentless rebounding and defensive intensity, Clark put together one of its more complete defensive performances of the season — a formula that continues to serve the Penguins well as they push deeper into conference.

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