Lady Warriors Rally for Second Victory on the Season

The Nelson Lady Warriors' Women's Basketball team (2-12) captured their second victory of the season in exhilarating fashion, when the Lady Warriors outlasted the Pacific Union Pioneers 78-73 in overtime on the road.

Pacific Union dictated the tempo early, edging the first quarter 12-10 before exploding for a 26-18 second frame to build a 10-point cushion and exhilarate the home crowd. But tapping into their inner Warrior spirit, the Ladies from Nelson refused to break. Inch by inch, possession by possession, they fought their way back into contention, trimming the deficit with patient offense and tightening defense.

As regulation wound down, Gabrielle Haskie took over, igniting a personal 5-0 burst in the final 50 seconds to pull Nelson even closer to victory. With the score knotted and momentum swinging, Pacific Union's Krystal Pineda coolly sank a layup with just 10 seconds left to tie the game at 68-68, forcing overtime and setting the stage for the game's ultimate drama.

In the extra period, the Lady Warriors seized control. After a back-and-forth start, Makayla Powell rose to the moment, slicing in for a layup with 2:36 remaining to give Nelson a 74-73 lead, their first advantage since the opening minutes. From there, the Warriors locked in, capping the night with a decisive 6-0 run to salt away the win and return home victorious.

Over the final 25 minutes, including overtime, Nelson dominated their opponent 50-35, a testament to their, composure, borne over a season of difficult challenges in which the coaching staff has instilled a refusal to yield. The comeback win not only doubles their victory total but presents a hopeful signal that this team is finding its identity as they close out the 2025 calendar year, ready to carry this momentum into 2026 with confidence soaring.

Makayla Powell dominated on both the offensive and defensive ends, recording a 25 point, 13 rebound double-double in only her third game of the season, nailing 8-13 from the field and 9-13 from the charity stripe. Gabrielle Haskie put together a balanced score sheet with 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Chloe Warren was a firecracker off the benching, dropping 14 points including 3 critical 3-point shots.

The Pioneers had five players record double-figuring scoring, led by Mataya Amen-Sherman's 16 points, while Krystal Pineda fell one rebound short of a double-double, finishing with 9 to go along with 14 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals.

Up next for the Lady Warriors will be at the Colorado Mines on Friday, January 2 at 1pm.

Do not forget to follow Nelson Athletics on X at @NelsonWarriors and Instagram at @nelsonwarriors.athletics.