EVERETT — Peninsula College women’s basketball edged Everett 71-66 to stay in control of their NWAACC tournament destiny, while the men’s team’s playoff hopes dimmed further after an 80-72 defeat by the Trojans.
The Pirate women (6-5, 9-12) have now won two of their past three games and sit a game ahead of Everett for the fourth and final North Division postseason berth.
Peninsula also holds the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Trojans after sweeping the season series.
Despite shooting a cool 9 of 28 from the field in the first half, the Pirates held a 31-30 lead at intermission.
Everett couldn’t contain Peninsula post Gabi Fenumiai, who posted a double-double with 24 points on an efficient 10 of 14 shooting from the floor, along with 12 rebounds.
Madison Pilster had a solid game for the Pirates, scoring 19 points, including 9 of 15 shooting from the free throw line, with 12 rebounds — six on the offensive glass.
Pilster also pilfered four steals away from the Trojans.
Peninsula’s shooting improved greatly after the break, with the team knocking down 16 of 32 shots.
Reserve guard Miranda Schmillen also stepped up for the Pirates, hitting 5 of 7 shots and all three of her free throws to tally 13 points off the bench.
Pherrari Brumbaugh handed out a game-high six assists and Alison Knowles scored 11 and had four assists for Peninsula.
The Pirates visit Olympic College, who have two former Port Angeles High School players Macy Walker and Mariah Frazier on their roster, for a 2 p.m. matinee in Bremerton on Saturday.
Peninsula 71, Everett 66
Peninsula 31 40 — 71
Everett 30 36 — 66
Individual scoring
Peninsula (71)
Fenumiai 24, Pilster 19, Schmillen 13, Knowles 11, Brumbaugh 3, Henderson 1.
Everett (66)
Rasmussen 26, Smith 13, Albertson 10, DuChesne 6, Hagans 5, Olgjoyteghe 4, Orr 2.
Men’s Game
Everett 80, Peninsula 72
A disparity in turnovers and second-half free-throw opportunities led to the third straight loss for the Peninsula men.
The Pirates allowed 18 turnovers to just eight on the game for the Trojans and were able to convert on 3 of 6 second-half free-throw shots compared to Everett’s 15 of 18 shooting from the stripe.
Peninsula (4-7, 10-10) trails the surging Trojans (6-5, 15-10), winners of four straight, and Edmonds (6-5, 14-10) for the fourth seed to the NWAACC championships.
The Pirates best strategy now is to try and win out and hope for Everett losses against Whatcom and Skagit Valley in its final two games, who are tied for the top of the North Division with 9-2 league records.
Peninsula split two games with Everett but was swept by Edmonds.
Xavier Bazile poured in 30 points on 11 for 22 shooting from the floor, and also hauled down 13 rebounds and blocked three shots for the Pirates.
Tyler McKinney added 12 points and Juwan Flowers 11 for Peninsula.
The Pirates visit Olympic and former Sequim High School standout Jayson Brocklesby at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Everett 80, Peninsula 72
Peninsula 33 39 — 72
Everett 31 49 — 80
Individual scoring
Peninsula (72)
Bazile 30, McKinney 12, Flowers 11, Horsley 6, Rawls 5, Penney 4, Hechanova 2, Shamlin 2.
Everett (80)
Rasmussen 26, Smith 13, Albertson 10, DuChesne 6, Hagans 5, Olgjoyteghe 4, Orr 2.