A pair of heartbreaking defeats kept Peninsula’s women out of the win column last week.

The Pirates (0-4) rode a big third quarter to get back into the game, but it wasn’t enough in a 53-51 loss at Highline on Dec. 6.

Sharon Ajayi had 15 points and 11 rebounds and teammate Aileen Kaye added 12 points to lead Highline’s Thunderbirds.

Jamellia Clark had a team-high 21 points and 18 rebounds, and Ashlynn Sharp added 13 points for the Pirates in defeat.

Highline got off to a fast start with a 21-12 lead after one quarter and led 31-23 at halftime, but PC tied it at 38-38 after three quarters.

Highline held Peninsula to just 28 percent shooting from the field and forced 25 PC turnovers, but the Pirates out-rebounded the Thunderbirds 51-37.

On Dec. 8, Peninsula held a two-point lead going into the fourth quarter but couldn’t hold it in a 64-63 loss to the Wenatchee Valley Knights, at Pierce College’s Raiders Holiday Invite in Tacoma on Dec. 8.

Putting just seven players on the court thanks to preseason injuries, Peninsula out-scored the Knights 21-15 in the third quarter to take a 49-47 lead.

In her best game as a Pirate, Sharp hit six 3-pointers in 10 tires to lead PC with 21 points while Tiffany Smith added 10 points. Clark just missed another double-double with nine points and 13 rebounds, and Kayla Alvarez — playing all 40 minutes — had nine points and three assists.

Ashlynn Burgess led Wenatchee Valley with 21 points.

Looking ahead

The Pirates are back in action at the Centralia Crossover set for Dec. 15-17. PC takes on Mount Hood on Dec. 15, host Centralia on Dec. 16 and Walla Walla on Dec. 17.

Peninsula has one more scheduled contest to round out the year, a Dec. 28 game versus Clark in Wenatchee.

The Pirates host Lower Columbia on Jan. 5 top open conference play.