The Snow College women's basketball team finished in second place at the Region 18 Tournament last weekend. The Badgers defeated defeated North Idaho College 61-50 in the semifinal matchup. Before suffering a 67-63 defeat against Salt Lake Community College in the Championship.

Snow College wrapped up its season with a 21-11 overall record, while going 9-6 in conference play. This is the first 20 win season for the Badgers since the 2018-19 season. 

The Badgers entered the Region 18 Tournament on a game winner by Kiriana Hawaikirangi (So./Kalgoorlie, Aus./Eastern Goldfields College) to defeat the Bruins 54-52. This victory lifted Snow College to the second seed, slotting the Badgers to face off against the Cardinals in the first round.

The first quarter started out with traded layups to begin the game before a six-minute scoring drought for both teams that was snapped by a Lili Suguturaga (So./Orem, Utah/Mountain View HS) layup. NIC wrapped up the quarter on a 6-3 run to lead 8-7.

The first 12 points of the second quarter were split before a 12-2 Badger run saw them take a 25-16 lead. Snow College maintained at least a two possession lead for the remainder of the first half, and took a 33-21 lead into the break.

The Cardinals opened the second half on a 9-7 run that pushed the score to 40-30 midway through the period. NIC kept the offense going with an 8-2 burst to finish out the period to trim the Badger lead to 42-38.

The Cardinals remained hot in the fourth and knotted the game at 47 after a 9-5 run. Hadley Richins (So./Henefer, Utah/North Summit HS) turned the game around with a quick steal and score that ignited a 9-0 run that put the Badgers up 56-47. Snow College then iced the game scoring five of the final eight to clinch a trip to the championship with a 61-50 victory.

Brooke Pennington (So./Springville, Utah/Springville HS) and Hawaikirangi both netted 10 points in the victory. Hawaikirangi also dished out four assists. Iyana Beh (So./Murray, Utah/Murray HS) grabbed 10 boards and recorded a career high of five blocks against the Cardinals. Suguturaga added nine points in the victory and also set career highs in the playoffs with four steals and two blocks.

The Region 18 championship would pit the Bruins and Badgers against each other for the fourth time this season. The Badgers dropped 84-52 in the first matchup before bouncing back and winning 64-60 and 54-52 to take the regular season series. 

Maliyah Elliott (So./Auburn, Washington/Auburn Mtn. View HS) opened the game for the Badgers on a 5-0 run. The Bruins then climbed back within two before an 8-0 burst put the Badgers up 15-5 midway through the first.

However, the Bruins caught fire and developed a 17-0 run to wrap up the first quarter and enter the second. SLCC went 5-6 from beyond the arc during the run. 

Suguturaga calmed the run on a 4-0 personal run, but SLCC stayed hot, out scoring the Badgers 23-10 in the final eight minutes of the first half. The Bruins held a 45-29 lead entering halftime.

Beh netted the first nine points of the second half going 4-4 from the field and 1-1 from the arc. This run pushed the score to 48-38 in favor of SLCC. Snow College then finished the third quarter on the positive side 11-6 run to pull back within five. The Badgers shot 4-6 from three in the third quarter alone. 

Snow College opened the fourth on a 8-4 burst led by Brooke Pennington (So./Springville, Utah/Springville HS) and Hawaikirangi who split the eight points. Elliot then scored the go-ahead layup at 59-58. The Badgers climbed out of a 16-point deficit from halftime with three minutes to play.

However, the Badgers surrendered the lead on a Bruin three and were on the wrong side of a 6-4 run that kept the game just out of reach. The Badgers ultimately suffered a 67-63 loss.

Despite the loss, Beh led the Badger offense with 19 points on 9-11 shooting, while grabbing eight rebounds. Pennington also scored in double-digits with 13, grabbed five rebounds, dished three assists, and had two steals.

Beh and Pennington were both named to the All-Tournament Team. Pennington recorded 23 points (8-23, 3-10), seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals across the two games. Beh scored 26 points (12-20, 1-1), grabbed 18 rebounds, blocked six shots, dished out two assists, and picked up one steal.