Cougars Make Statement with 87-28 Win Over Highline in Game 2 of NWAC Championship

PASCO, Wash. — Clackamas (30-0, 16-0) won a dominant game on both ends of the floor as they defeated Highline (9-15, 7-5), 87-28 in Game 2 of the 2026 NWAC Women's Basketball Championship, presented by ICCU, on Friday at Columbia Basin College.

The Cougar defense set the NWAC tournament record for fewest points allowed with 28, breaking the previous record set just last year by Walla Walla. Clackamas also came with one point of the largest margin of victory, which is held by the 2011 Cougars. Clackamas had four double-digit scorers and shot 49.3 percent from the field with 12 three pointers while limiting Highline to 19.6 percent shooting.

The first quarter began with the Cougars taking an early lead, driven by Brezlyn Schwalm's three-pointer assisted by Alana Washington at 9:25. They maintained momentum with Mae Washington scoring back-to-back layups, contributing to a 7-0 start. The Thunderbirds' Jaci Graise put the visitors on the board at 7:26 with a jumper. However, Clackamas extended its lead significantly, with Mollie Miller hitting a three-pointer at the 3:31 mark, pushing the score to 20-6. Alana Washington's performance was pivotal, including successful free throws at 1:21, as the Cougars ended the quarter ahead 27-9.

Clackamas dominated the second quarter, outscoring the Thunderbirds 20-3 to extend its lead. Mae Washington hit a layup at 9:18 and a fast-break layup at 5:44, along with multiple steals. Alana Washington was also pivotal, assisting several plays, including a layup by Addison Almero at 1:02 and a 3-pointer by Schwalm at 2:07. Highline struggled with turnovers, committing nine in the quarter, which the Cougars capitalized on to increase their advantage. The quarter concluded with Schwalm hitting another 3-pointer with just nine seconds left, giving Clackamas a commanding 47-12 lead.

The Cougars dominated the third quarter, extending their lead with a series of successful plays. Miller opened the scoring for Clackamas with a 3-pointer at 9:21, assisted by Grace Hayashida. Hannah Patten later added a 3-pointer at 4:18, with Mae Washington providing the assist. The home team capitalized on its defensive strength, forcing multiple turnovers and committing zero turnovers itself. A jumper by Mae Washington at 0:36 sealed a 54-point lead for Clackamas, ending the quarter with a commanding 26-7 advantage.

Miller stood out with a team-high 21 points, shooting 8-for-17 from the field, including five 3-pointers. Mae Washington had 12 points and led the team with six steals, showcasing her defensive capabilities. Alana Washington was a pivotal playmaker, recording a team-high 12 assists, and added 12 points and two blocks to her performance. Pepper Smith controlled the boards with 11 rebounds. Meanwhile, Schwalm was accurate from beyond the arc, scoring 18 points, all from six 3-pointers, highlighting her shooting efficiency.

Richardson led the Thunderbirds with eight points, five steals, four rebounds and three blocks. Jaci Graise controlled the boards with a team-high nine rebounds.

Clackamas moves onto the Elite 8 and will face Big Bend on Saturday at 2 p.m. Highline wraps up a resurgent year as they reached the tournament for the first time since 2020. The Thunderbirds were the only new team in the tournament from 2025.