The Bellingham girls' basketball team defeated Meridian 57-31at home in a Northwest Conference game Friday, Dec. 21.

"We rebounded the ball really well but we didn't shoot the ball very well," Bellingham coach Brad McKay said in a phone interview. "Alicia Romero really pounded the boards for us and was huge."

Bellingham (6-4, 1-2 NWC) was led by Alyssa Porter, who scored 20 points, Romero, who scored 12 and had 15 rebounds, and Olivia Halverson, who scored 10 and had 10 rebounds.

"Porter having 20 was a nice contribution," McKay said. "It was really a team effort and everyone that played scored which was nice to see."

Meridian (1-9, 0-3) was led by Madison Holz, who scored 14 points and Allecia Galindo, who scored 8.

Bellingham will host Oak Harbor on Thursday, Dec. 27, while Meridian is at Squalicum on Friday, Jan. 4.

BELLINGHAM 57, MERIDIAN 31

Meridian 6 8 5 12 - 31

Bellingham 12 16 14 15 - 57

Meridian: Madison Holz 14, Kendall DeMerice 4, Allecia Galindo 8, Kendra Holmes 2, Sydney Swanson 1, Taylor Lunde 2, Janessa Murphy 0, Haley Belanger 0, Grace Pyles 0. Team totals: 10-22 7-10 31.

Bellingham: Carleen Syth 4, Ashley Spink 2, Michaela Knutson 3, Monica Ziels 2, Alicia Romero 12, Olivia Halverson 10, Catrina Mahoney 2, Joelle Zamora 2, Alyssa Porter 20. Team totals: 23-64 11-20 57.

3-ptg: Meridian 4 (Holz 3), Bellingham 0 . Rebounds: Meridian 24 (n/a), Bellingham 45 (Romero 15). Assists: Meridian 4 (n/a), Bellingham 8 (n/a). Fouls: Meridian 18 (none), Bellingham 16 (none). Turnovers: Meridian 11, Bellingham 13.