The Nooksack Valley girls' basketball team's defense helped it to a 36-33 win at La Conner on Tuesday, Dec. 4.

"We are happy to get out with a win," Nooksack Valley coach Shane Wichers said in a phone interview. "We shot the ball very poorly but defensively we did what we had to do to get a win. I'm very pleased with the defense tonight."

Nooksack Valley was led by Lindy Swanson, who scored 10 points and Melissa Stadt, who scored eight and had seven rebounds.

The Pioneers were held to three baskets in the second half.

"We had a lot of great looks that just weren't going in," Wichers said. "We were cold. I told them, if you are not making shots then you need to play defense. It was a gritty team effort on defense."

Nooksack Valley (3-0) will host Bellingham in a non-conference game on Friday, Dec. 7.

NOOKSACK VALLEY 36, LA CONNER 33

NV 11 11 8 6 - 36

La Conner 6 9 8 10 - 33

Nooksack Valley: Lauren Dykstra 0, Melissa Stadt 8, Lindy Swanson 10, Kaycee DeBruin 0, Morgan Perry 4, Mariah Perry 4, Cheyanna Maxwell 0, Lindsay Hayes 5, Julie Campos 0, Taryn Tenkley 5. Team totals: 12-60 11-15 36.

La Conner: Katie McKnight 11, Anna Cook 10, Alyssa McCormick 6, Katie Novak 0, Kelley McClung 0, Lauren Reynolds 0, Taysha James 4, Carly Anderson 0, Emma Christianson 0, Aubrey Stewart 2. Team totals: 14-49 4-6 33.

3-ptg: Nooksack Valley 1 (Tenkley), La Conner 1 (McKnight). Rebounds: Nooksack Valley 26 (Stadt 7), La Conner 37 (N/A). Assists: Nooksack Valley 6 (Stadt, Morgan Perry 2), La Conner N/A Fouls: Nooksack Valley 12 (none), La Conner 16 (none). Turnovers: Nooksack Valley 6, La Conner 10.