The Blaine girls' basketball team took advantage of getting to the free throw line in a defensive battle with Lynden to claim a 37-26 Northwest Conference victory on Friday, Jan. 25.

Neither team shot particularly well from the field, but the Borderites (12-5, 7-3 NWC) went 19 for 29 from the line. The Lions (10-7, 5-4) only got to the line 10 times, converting two shots.

"Both teams played really hard defensively," Blaine coach Ryan Pike said in a phone interview. "Both teams missed a lot of shots. The difference, I thought, was at the free throw line. I think we were a little more aggressive going to the hole, and that helped us get to the line, where we were able to make some shots."

Mandy Hayes was Blaine's only player to reach double figures with 15 points, though Taylor V'Dovec scored eight to go along with her game-high 13 rebounds.

Stephanie Somers' 11 points led Lynden, which was held to seven points in the first half, while Taylor VanDalen grabbed nine rebounds.

Blaine next hosts Friday Harbor on Saturday, Jan. 26, in a 1A Northwest District game, while Lynden hosts Ferndale on Tuesday, Jan. 29, in an NWC game.

BLAINE 37, LYNDEN 26

Lynden 2 5 13 6 - 26

Blaine 13 3 10 11 - 37

Lynden: Mandy Warner 0, Taylor VanDalen 2, Maddi Hommes 5, Ashlyn Morgan 1, Miriah Brown 0, Kelsey Bouwman 3, Tanna Benson 0, Kaitlyn Mark 4, Stephanie Somers 11. Team totals: 10-49 2-10 26

Blaine: Emily Roe 0, Gretchen Kordas 0, Breanna Chau 7, Olivia Olason 2, Alexis McElwain 5, Nicole Ortega 0, Mikayla Deming 0, Mandy Hayes 15, Rhiana Breedlove 0, Taylor V'Dovec 8. Team totals: 9-30 19-29 37.

3-ptg: Lynden 4-25 (Somers 3), Blaine 0-4. Rebounds: Lynden 33 (VanDalen 9), Blaine 31 (V'Dovec 13). Assists: Lynden 5 (Hommes 2), Blaine 9 (Hayes 3, Chau 3). Fouls: Lynden 18, Blaine 13. Turnovers: Lynden 17, Blaine 12.