After an impressive 3-0 start to the league play the Everett women's basketball team went on a three-game losing streak before their next win to hold the number four seed in the NWAACC North Division.

The Trojans currently possess a half-game lead over 3-3 Seattle Community College and Whatcom Community College, who both beat the Trojans on their home courts earlier this season.

The Trojans lost their first league game of the season to first place (7-0) Skagit Valley Community College where they fought back from a 48-37 halftime deficit to pull within four points after a 3-pointer by freshman Karissa Tri. Skagit Valley then went on a 2-17 run eventually winning the game 62-82.

"We didn't control the ball well," Tri said. "We play well together, we just have to take better care of the ball."

Skagit Valley also out-rebounded the Trojans 30-51 with Morgan Thomas and Keena Hopkins sharing the team high on the boards at five a piece.

"It doesn't matter how good your defense is," Tri said. "If you don't finish the play with a rebound it is a loss."

The Trojans have struggled in the rebounding category in all of their league games this season, as the only team they were able to beat on the boards was Olympic Community College, which the Trojans outscored in the first half 35-11.

Defensively the Trojans have struggled in their three losses giving up more than 63 points a game in losses compared to 47 in wins, a good amount coming from foul shots as teams are averaging 17 points off of free-throws.

"We have got to play good defense without fouling," coach Chet Hovde said. "That starts without reaching and fouling." Hovde added, "Teams that beat us went to the line a ton, just silly fouls."

The Trojans then hosted Edmonds Community College where they committed only 10 fouls and scored eight points off of free-throws while tying Edmonds in rebounds at 36-36. The Trojans went on to win the game 67-42 with everyone on the team scoring and a team high 14 points from Hopkins.

Hovde is still concerned with his team's shot selection, as the Trojans are shooting under 34 percent from the field in their last three games.

"We need to know who can shoot in what areas," Hovde said. "What plays will get them open and execute those plays," Hovde added, "The more we play together the better the team will be."

"We are not playing to our full potential," sophomore Brooke Russell said. "We take too many quick shots and we need to be more patient."

The Trojans only need to be one of the top four teams to make it to the NWAACC tournament and they currently hold the number four seed heading into the second half of their league games.

"We need a cohesiveness," Hovde said. "We have the athleticism and we are getting there, but we are not there yet."