In a season of streaks, Peninsula’s women hoopsters are on the best kind you can have.

With a 77-45 thrashing of Shoreline Jan. 2, the Pirates (5-5) opened NWAACC play with a win and ran their winning streak to four games.

This, after spoiling a 1-0 record with a five-game losing streak, comes as a welcome change, said second-year coach Tiffany Darling.

"I think a lot of it was us just getting healthy," Darling said. "We were injury-plagued. We (got) rolled ankles healthy … and we had so many new kids learning the system. We’re defending the basketball and making that a priority."

The Pirates made sure getting the ball out of Shoreline’s hands was a priority last week, as they converted 40 turnovers into 32 points and snagged 22 steals – five each from Bethany Holt and Krystal Tolliver.

On the offensive end, Sam Flett had a solid all-around game with 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals, while Britney Yamane had 11 points. Holt, Brittany Bridges and Kathleen Wilson had nine points each, mirroring the spread in scoring they saw one game earlier against Green River.

"There’s so much scouting in college basketball; it helps to have all those weapons," Darling said.

On Dec. 29, the Pirates capped 2007 with a win, topping their Green River hosts 85-61.

Wilson led five Peninsula scorers in double figures with 21 points and added five steals, while Flett added 19 points and seven rebounds. Yamane and Holt bolstered the Pirates’ efforts, combining for 25 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and six steals. Bridges chipped in with 11 points and five rebounds, helping Peninsula out-rebound Green River 48-36.

"(They’re) learning the value of rebounding," Darling said of her Pirates following the win. "(This was) a great team for us to beat on their home floor."

Up next for the Pirates is a match-up with a bigger, taller Bellevue Bulldog squad.

But Peninsula will have the services of Brianna Allen, who got a late start this season and had two points, four rebounds and four assists against Shoreline last week, her first game of the season.

"She knows the game exceptionally well," Darling said of Allen, a Port Angeles High grad. "She has great vision she can create some mismatches. She gives us three returners (and) one more person who knows my system."

Bellevue comes into Wednesday night’s contest with an 0-1 conference record after falling 62-56 to Everett Jan. 2.

Darling figures the Bulldogs to be a tough match-up.

"Bellevue’s a tough team but if they have a deficiency, it’s in their backcourt," she said. "They’re strong in the post. (The key is) not giving up any easy buckets in transition. We’re going to have to out-technique people. Defensively for us … we have to give them one shot and that’s it."

Game time is 5:30 p.m., followed by the men’s game at

7:30 p.m.