The Highline women’s basketball team absorbed two tough losses, at home and on the road, slimming their chances of making the postseason tournament. 

The Thunderbirds now have a 2-6 record with just four games left in conference play. 

Last Wednesday at the Thunderdome, Highline fell to South Puget Sound 56-49.

The Clippers maintained better ball control and shooting percentage throughout. The Clippers capitalized on poor Thunderbird ball handling with 21 points off turnovers.

The Clippers took the lead 17-15 after one quarter. 

In the second, the two teams combined for 9 points as Highline scraped out a 21-20 lead. Both teams struggled with shooting, as Highline was 1-12 the Clippers were 0-12. 

The T-Birds warmed up in the third period, hitting 8 of 11 shots on their way to a 39-35 lead. At one point, Highline was up by 10 before running out of steam. 

The Clippers outscored Highlien 21-10 in the final frame to take the victory and keep a hold on fourth place and the last playoff spot. 

The Clippers’ Sharay Trotter was the team’s top scorer with 12 points 4-9 shooting. Guard Payten Foster added 11 points and Jennie Goldsberry chipped in 9 points.

Center Kylie Lunday was Highline’s top scorer, recording 18 points and 13 rebounds. 

Both Savannah Arneach and Mercedes Smith added 11 points.

Last Saturday, the Lady T-Birds hit the road and faced 4-3 Tacoma. Highline struggled to sink threes and the Trojans took advantage resulting in a 61-49 loss. 

Tacoma led throughout the game, behind 25 points from Shiho Isono. The T-Birds rallied in the fourth quarter but it was too little, too late. 

Tacoma was 6-26 from three-point range, versus 1-12 for Highline, and outrebounded Highline 45-38.  

Highline’s Kylie Lunday was on fire with 24 points on 10-13 shooting, nearly beating her career best 25. Forward Savannah Arneach added 10 points on 4-9 shooting. 

Lunday continues to shine. The stellar sophomore ranks first in rebounds per game and second in field goal percentage for the league. 

Last week’s defeats left Highline tied for fifth in the West Region, two and a half games behind South Puget at 4-3. Highline would need South Puget to lose at least three games, while winning all of theirs, to reach the NWAC tournament.

Highline next plays at 2-6 Green River on Saturday at 2 p.m. They then travel to 8-0 Lower Columbia next Wednesday, March 2. Two make-up games close out the season after that.