Women's Basketball Qualifies for NWAC Tournament

OLYMPIA, Wash. - The South Puget Sound Community College women's basketball team will appear in the NWAC tournament for the second time in as many years. With their 66-46 victory over Highline on February 18th, the Clippers clinched a berth into the 16-team championship tournament. With three games remaining in west region play, the Clippers' final seed has yet to be determined, but they are still in the running for a share of the regional title. 

Coach Darah Vining said of her team, " This group of sophomores was my first recruiting class, and they have worked to build the culture and leave a legacy here at SPSCC. Coach Vining also expressed great pride in the growth of sophomore duo Payten Foster and Sharay Trotter, sharing "Payten has embraced her role as a hybrid for us and developed her offensive skillset, while Sharay has taken the next step in her journey by becoming the teams' leading scorer and defensive stopper." 

The Clippers' defense has been stellar this season, including a top-five ranking for their rebound margin, steals per game, and opponents' three-point percentage. Coach Vining's program struggled early but turned the corner following their tournament at Columbia Basin College during the preseason. Vining credits the team's passion on the defensive end and their focus on rotations for the vast improvement. 

With three games remaining, the Clippers will look to secure a share of the west region championship if they win all three. However, the Clippers are taking a "game by game" approach and focusing on the Grays Harbor Chokers, whom they face Wednesday night in Olympia.