The Student Newspaper of Highline College

Jack Harton/Highline Athletics

Hi’ilani Aurai lead Highline in scoring against SPSCC last night

Conference opener loss whips Highline into shape

Rebecca Zenger• Staff Reporter Jan 20, 2022

Women’s basketball is back on with league play scheduled through March and possibly April due to NWAC postponements. The Lady T-Birds lost a close conference opener to South Puget Sound last night, 57-50. The team is now 3-6 overall and 0-1 in conference. 

“After a month it was definitely hard for us to get back into shape. We felt rusty at first but I’m proud that we were able to keep up with them considering their second in the league,” said Highline guard Hi’ilani Aurai.

Three-point shooting and bench contributions from South Puget Sound made the difference in last night’s match. The first quarter was low-scoring until the Clippers made the first layup at 7:34. Highline came out on top with 4-point contributions from Hi’ilani Arai and Kylie Lunday. The Clippers trailed by 2 with 8-6 in the first. The second quarter panned out in a similar fashion as both teams were neck and neck in scoring. The Clippers led by one, 22-21 at halftime. 

“We started off super strong in the first half and brought the energy,” said Arai.

In the third quarter Highline reclaimed the lead, shooting 8-11 at the line and a 3-pointer putting them up 40-39. Highline then went cold and South Puget Sound didn’t taking a 9-point lead with 6:06 on the clock. The Clippers sailed ahead with two three-pointers to none and 13 rebounds to Highline’s 7. Highline came up short 57-50 at the final buzzer. 

“I feel like we fell short in the last quarter. We just weren’t making as many shots as they were,” said Arai.

Guard Payten Foster led the Clippers in scoring with 13 points on 5-11 shooting. Kayla Jackson gave the Clippers an edge by swishing three out of four team three-pointers and 12 total points. 

Highline guard Hi’ilani Arai tallied 15 points on 6-16 shooting. Forward Savannah Arneach contributed 12 points, 8 of them behind the free throw line and 9 rebounds. Center Kylie Lunday added 8 points and 14 rebounds. 

This Saturday, the Thunderbirds match up against 6-7 Tacoma at the Pavilion. Tip off is at noon. On Wednesday, Feb. 2, the team hosts the neighboring Green River. Tip off is at 5 p.m.