CCS women defeat Big Bend

Emily Wittkopf scored a game-high 17 points and added eight rebounds, as Community Colleges of Spokane women’s basketball team sailed past Big Bend Community College 71-50 in Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges action on Wednesday at Spokane Falls CC.

Sarah Scates contributed a double-double for the Sasquatch (19-9, 9-4), scoring 12 and grabbing 11 boards. Calli Jo Turner scored 17 for the Vikings (13-16, 5-9).

The win qualified CCS for the NWAACC tournament as the No. 2 or No. 3 seed, pending its final game against Wenatchee Valley.

Men’s basketball

Erik Bell scored 18 and Joel Ryman added 15, but it wasn’t enough as CCS fell to Big Bend 71-69 in NWAACC play at SFCC.

The Sasquatch (21-7, 10-4) held a 34-29 lead at the half, but couldn’t hold on as Derek Miller and his game-high 29 points landed the Vikings (18-10, 9-5) a win.

Despite the loss, the Sasquatch advance to the NWAACC tournament March 9 as the No. 1 seed.

Hockey

Robbie Knott’s third-period goal was the difference as Queen City slipped by Spokane 3-2 in the third game of a North Pacific Hockey League best-of-5 series at Helena, Mont.

Shamus O’Leary and Alex Lelwica both scored for the No. 3-seeded Flyers (28-21), who had 43 saves in net from Zack Lelwica.

The No. 1-seeded Cutthroats (37-12) hold a 2-1 series lead and host Game 4 tonight at 7:05.