The playoffs are beginning to feel like a tough climb for the Yakima Valley women's basketball team, which dropped its eighth game in the past nine outings last Saturday at first-place Walla Walla. The Yaks shot just 36.4% (20-of-55) from the floor and fell behind by 21 at the half on the way to a 78-50 defeat.

Britany Phillips scored 14 points, Abby Gilbert added 12, Clarissa Schrock had 10 and Jada Mendoza tallied eight points off the bench as YVC fell to 3-8 in NWAC East play (8-16 overall). Phillips grabbed five rebounds, Gilbert and Mikayla Christiansen had four boards apiece on a night where the Yaks were outrebounded, 38-20. Christiansen and Madisen King each delivered three assists, and four players — Gilbert, Schrock, Phillips and Medoza — sank two three-pointers each.

Last Wednesday at home against Treasure Valley, the Yaks stayed even with the Chukars through the first quarter but couldn't keep pace the rest of the way in an 87-59 loss. Phillips and King scored 18 points apiece and Gilbert had 10 points and seven assists as YVC shot 33.8% (24-of-71) from the floor and made only 2-of-18 long-range attempts. Christiansen pulled down a team-high eight rebounds to go with five points, and Schrock posted six points, four rebounds and four assists. Phillips had seven rebounds and King had six as YVC came up short in the rebounding battle, 48-40.

The Yaks will try to bounce back Wednesday at Columbia Basin before traveling to Spokane on Saturday.