PORT ANGELES — Peninsula stumbled at home in its bid to move into solo second place in the NWAC North Division women’s basketball standings, falling to Bellevue 73-65 Wednesday.
With the loss, the Pirates (5-3, 12-7) dropped into a tie with Edmonds (5-3, 8-13) for the North’s third seed to the NWAC Tournament.
Peninsula’s Casandra White, left, slips past Bellevue’s Rokki Brown during the third quarter on Wednesday night in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Bellevue (6-2, 13-5) now sits alone in second place, a game back of Whatcom (7-1, 16-7).
Peninsula struggled to defend the Bulldogs’ shooters in Wednesday’s loss, allowing Bellevue to hit 28 of 56 shots (50 percent) from the field, including 7 of 18 on 3-point attempts (39 percent).
The Pirates hit 40 percent of their shots, but could only find the net twice on 10 3-point tries.
Logan Luke led Peninsula with 19 points, connecting on 6 of 13 shots and knocking down 7 of 9 free throws. Luke added four rebounds and two steals.
Peninsula’s Logan Luke, left, goes for a layup as Bellevue’s Rutledge defends the lane Wednesday in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Leilani Padilla added 16 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Kayla Johnson added 10 points off the bench but was charged with seven of the Pirates’ 17 turnovers.
Peninsula visits Edmonds on Saturday.
Bellevue 73, Peninsula 65
Bellevue 17 17 16 23— 73
Peninsula 14 13 15 23— 65
Bellevue (73) — Amos 24, Luckett 14, Rutledge 14, Laut 8, Faulkner 5, Clabby 3, Brown 2, Bungay.
Peninsula (65) — Luke 19, Padilla 16, Johnson 10, Vicente 6, White 5, Brown 4, Bowen 3, Fitzgerald 2, McCaulley, Sargent.
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Compiled from team reports. Email scores to sports@peninsuladailynews.com or phone 360-417-3525.
Peninsula’s Kayla Johnson drives downcourt pursued by Bellevue’s MaKenna Faulkner in Port Angeles on Wednesday. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)