by RYAN HUETER

The Buccaneer

Peninsula College

The Peninsula College women’s basketball team dropped a back-and-forth contest to the Seattle Storm, 75-66, on Feb. 12.

A rebounding edge of 15, 18 assists on 28 baskets, four players in double-figures, nearly identical shooting percentage to Seattle … and those pesky turnovers, 18 in all and five at the most inopportune times, caused the Pirates’ demise.

The Pirates (2-10 in division, 5-16 overall) failed to capitalize on their offensive possessions down the stretch and allowed too many open looks at the basket, negating an otherwise strong all-around effort.

The Storm (4-8 in division, 5-15 overall) connected for eight three-point shots in the first half, many of those coming on uncontested attempts, and the Pirates could not take advantage of a prime opportunity late in the second half.

After Megan Smith’s three-point bucket with 13:03 remaining in the first half, the Storm went on a 21-6 run over the next seven minutes to take a 30-18 lead.

During that stretch, North Seattle drained five three-point shots as Peninsula dropped multiple defensive assignments and the Pirates failed to execute on the offensive end.

While the Storm players were finding creases in Peninsula’s defense, the Pirates simply could not find the basket, ceasing to score for a three-minute period during which Seattle scored 10 times.

Smith ended the Storm rally with a lay-up, however, and the Pirates went on a tear of their own.

Ardis Pullen netted six points over the final four-and-a-half minutes of the opening period, keying Peninsula’s 15-5 run to close out the first half down by two, 35-33.

 Peninsula out-rebounded the Storm, 49-34, but had too many opportunities slip away.

Turnovers stifle late rally

With 12:13 to play in the second half, Pullen nailed a jump shot to even the count, 45-45, but after that, Seattle netted the next seven points.

Three Peninsula turnovers resulted in two lay-ups and a three-pointer from Zelda Porter to give the Storm a 52-45 lead with 11:12 remaining.

The Pirates cut the lead to three, 54-51, on a Shawna Thein driving lay-up with just under seven minutes to go, and then Peninsula get the best chance of the night to seize the lead.

Despite a Seattle bucket that stretched the lead to five, the Pirates got three defensive stops in a row.

Still, Peninsula came up empty, turning the ball over almost immediately on two occasions and failing to find the twine on their other possession.

The Pirates would never get closer to Seattle than five tallies the rest of the way.

Danika Goodwin garnered a double-double, netting 15 points and pulling down 14 rebounds to go along with eight assists.

Smith led the Pirates with 17 points and three steals.

Peninsula will finish the season with three of four games on the road. The Pirates travel to Whatcom to take on the Orcas (9-2 in division, 13-8 overall) at 5 p.m. today, Feb. 16.