It was an anticlimactic finish to the season for the vastly improved Yakima Valley women's basketball team. After improving leaps and bounds over last season's one-win campaign, the Yaks dropped their final four NWAC East contests, including a 92-84 overtime loss to Blue Mountain on Wednesday night. The loss dropped YVC's season record to 6-10 in league play and 9-17 overall.

Freshman standout Aliyah Finch led the way with 23 points in her final game before transferring to Central Washington University next season. Skylar Begay added 19 points, Iliana Ramos tallied 14, and Taylor Newman had 11, helping YVC carry a one-point lead into the fourth quarter. But the Timberwolves proved to be stronger in the overtime period, outscoring the Yaks 15-7. Full statistics for the game were not available.

Finch again paced Yakima Valley in last Saturday's 58-49 setback to North Idaho, scoring 18 points and grabbing 17 rebounds. She also blocked four shots, but the Yaks shot just 36.4% (20-of-55) and committed 19 turnovers on the night. Ramos scored 14 points and three others — Begay, Newman and Hope Driscoll — scored four points apiece. Begay also contributed seven rebounds and three blocks, while Ramos had five rebounds and two steals.

Despite the impending departure of Finch, next year's squad should remain competitive with potential returnees including Newman, Begay, Driscoll, Faith McCarty and Jasslyn Ramos.

Columbia Basin ended up winning the NWAC East title with a record of 13-3. The Hawks will be joined in the upcoming NWAC Tournament by Walla Walla, North Idaho and Wenatchee.