Area Sports by Michael Dashiell

It only gets tougher from here.

Peninsula College's women swept the North Division's bottom-dwellers last week, keeping pace with the top teams from the division and setting up a big game Saturday evening against the Bellevue Bulldogs.

On Saturday night, Sam Flett scored 24 points and Brittany Bridges added 12 as Peninsula raced past Shoreline 71-42 at Shoreline.

With just one sophomore on the roster and a brand new coach on the bench, Shoreline (2-7 in conference, 8-12 overall) couldn't hang with the experienced Pirates squad.

The Pirates (7-2, 12-8) stay in the hunt for a North Division title, two full games behind Skagit Valley. The Cardinals are ranked No. 6 in the latest NWAACC poll.

The Pirates host Bellevue (6-3, 13-8) on Feb. 7. Game time is 5 p.m.



P.C. defense trumps Tritons

Offense wins fan support but defense wins ballgames.

The old sports adage was on display Wednesday evening as Peninsula's women rolled the host Edmonds Tritons 70-42.

Up by five at halftime, the Pirates clamped down on the Edmonds attack, out-scoring their hosts 42-19.

Flett led the Pirates with 28 points and snatched six of P.C.'s 20 steals.

"(It was) just a good defensive effort, especially in the second half," Peninsula coach Julie Stewart said.

Peninsula out-rebounded the Tritons 49-29.

Pirate guard Britney Yamane added 16 points and Bridges chipped in 11 points.

Krystal Tolliver led the team with 12 rebounds while Brooke Helpenstell added eight boards.

Valerie Topacio was the only Triton in double figures with 10 points. Edmonds, winless this season at 0-15, shot just 18-56 (32-percent) from the field and got to the free throw line four times, sinking one.

The Tritons saw each of their five starters play all 40 minutes Wednesday night.