The Ballard women's basketball team faced a tough challenge on Friday night as they hosted conference rival and No. 2-ranked North Polk at The Hangar.  The Comets came out firing on all cylinders, defeating the Bombers 69-35 in a game where Ballard struggled to find rhythm early.

North Polk set the tone from the start, holding Ballard scoreless in the first quarter and racing to a 32-0 lead.  Despite the slow start, the Bombers regrouped in the second half, showing resilience and outscoring the Comets 29-20 in the final two quarters.

Senior Raegan Loewe led Ballard's efforts with an impressive performance, scoring 21 points on 7-of-18 shooting from the field, including 3-of-10 from beyond the arc.  Loewe also added four rebounds and four steals in an all-around effort.  Freshman Maci Harder provided a spark off the bench, contributing six points while shooting a perfect 2-of-2 from the free-throw line.

Freshman Olivia Wacha and sophomore Grace Grundmeyer each chipped in four points and grabbed four rebounds apiece, showing promise for the Bombers' young roster.  Defensively, the Bombers forced nine turnovers but struggled to contain North Polk's offensive firepower.

North Polk's balanced attack was led by its depth and efficiency, particularly in the first quarter when the Comets built an insurmountable lead. Ballard's defense improved as the game progressed, holding the Comets to just 11 points in the fourth quarter.

The loss drops the Bombers to 4-11 on the season and 3-8 in conference play.  Ballard looks to bounce back in its next game, a road matchup against No. 11 Carlisle on Tuesday, January 28, at 6:00 PM.

Photo Credit: Davidson Photography