The Lane Titans Women's Basketball team advanced to the Second Round of the NWAC Tournament with a 79-58 win over Bellevue Wednesday night in Pasco, Washington.
The Titans and the Bulldogs met earlier this season in Bellevue, Washington, where the Titans easily handled their foe in a 72-53 win.
The Bulldogs were not discouraged by the previous result, however, and fought to keep the game in reach.
The Titans opened up the game with a 15-2 lead and were threatening to blow the game open early, but Bellevue responded with a 13-2 run to end the quarter only down 2.
Foul trouble plagued both teams throughout the game but hurt the Titans especially in the first half as Micah Wicks picked up her third personal foul in the middle of the second quarter.
Lillee Duffin and Kya Kanoho also sat with foul trouble.
Despite the absence of key starters, the Titans held a 39-21 halftime lead thanks to the play of Lillee Duffin, who grabbed an astounding 17 rebounds in the first half.
Micah Wicks and Emma McDonald both led the team in scoring at half, with 10 points each.
The Bulldogs found their footing in the third quarter and more foul trouble plagued the Titans, with both Wicks and Duffin sitting with 4 fouls in the third quarter.
With a minute and a half left in the third quarter Bellevue had trimmed the lead to just 10, but the Titans were boosted by Alessa Soto off the bench, who scored 13 points and dished out 4 assists.
With the lead back at 10 with 7 minutes left to play in the game, a timely three by Dianara Pena followed by another three by Kya Kanoho put the game out of reach, and the Titans cruised to a 79-58 win.
The Titans are now three wins away from winning their third straight NWAC Championship.
They will take on the Green River Gators Thursday at 4:00 PM at Columbia Basin College.