With EvCC starting out at 3-2 on the year in league play, the game against the Shoreline Dolphins was a really important game for them. Breezy Shore was needed to come up huge after scoring 31 points in her previous game. Just like the last league game, the Trojans came out of the gate on fire, going on a run of 9-2 to start this contest. Shoreline would make a run themselves bringing the deficit to within one point, but they would never take the lead. Winding down the end of the first quarter, the Dolphins would hit a three with only five seconds left to tie the game at 14 a piece.

The Trojans started the second quarter getting to the free throw line, making both shots. This gave EvCC a two point advantage at 16-14, however the Dolphins wenton a huge run. Shoreline scored the next eight points giving them a 22-16 lead and they would just keep building from there for the next five minutes. The defense was suffocating for the Dolphins, forcing the Trojans into many mistakes bringing the ball upcourt leading to fastbreak buckets.

Shoreline was leading by 10 points 28-18, but the Trojans went on a 6-0 run to bringing the scoring total for both teams at 28-24. Unfortunately for EvCC, four quick fouls put the Dolphins in the double bonus with about four minutes left. This led to a lot of easy points from the foul line for Shoreline but the Trojans were playing tough to the end of the first half, leading to Shore going coast to coast in the final seconds for a tough lay in to end the half. This brought the Trojans to within three at 30-27. Both teams shot a bad percentage from the field in the first half with the Trojans at 29.2% and the Dolphins at 31.0%. Shore led EvCC in scoring in the first half with seven points.

The Trojans started the third period strong going on a 7-2 run to start the half giving them a 34-27 lead. Just like in the first half though the Dolphins closed the gap yet again tying the game at 38. The third quarter highlighted a lot of defense as there wasn’t much scoring leading into the fourth quarter, except for a huge three made by Jess Reiter to put the Trojans up six 44-38.

The fourth quarter for the Trojans started just like the last game against Olympic for EvCC, instead of sparking a comeback the Trojans were building a lead this time. Shore was just as effective in the fourth this game as well, seemingly taking over the game with defense and inside scoring. When asking Shore about the fourth quarter surge she said “I’m very confident right now, and we were down so I feel like I need to pick up the scoring.” EvCC built a ten point lead with four minutes left 54-44, off of tough defense and lots of pressure.  The Trojans would not let up in this game, and scored five more points in a row to push the lead to 15.

Defense was key in this game, as the Trojans gave up 16 points in the second quarter, but only 16 points for the whole second half completely shutting down the Dolphins. EvCC won by a score of 65-46, winning yet another two games in a row for league play putting them at 4-2 on the season.  Lily Hilderbrand was huge with 11 points and 10 rebounds giving her a double-double for the night. Hilderbrand talked about her rebounding resurgence, “We have had a lot of talks in practice recently telling us to play with more heart and get on the floor if we have to, to get the rebounds, playing 100%.”

The Trojans play at Bellevue College next on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 4:00 p.m., with the Trojans eyeing their third league win in a row.