The defending champs weren’t about to let a little thing like a 15-point deficit get in their way of a win.

Jenise McKnight scored 20 points, Zhara Laster had a double-double (10 points, 13 rebounds), Imani Smith had 11 points and eight rebounds, and Cierra Moss had 15 points in playing all 40 minutes as the Pirates outlasted the Bellevue Bulldogs 62-60.

The win gives the Pirates (11-1 in conference, 20-5 overall) a seven-game winning streak and puts them in the figurative driver’s seat to win the North Division; PC leads Bellevue (10-2, 20-5) and Skagit Valley (10-2, 20-8) with two games remaining in the regular season.

Bellevue, behind the 24 points of Shelby Kassuba, led 25-10 after one quarter and 37-22 at halftime.

But Peninsula out-scored Bellevue 18-8 in the third quarter and 22-15 in the final frame.

The Pirates, ranked No. 5 in the conference like their male PC counterparts, knocked off Olympic three days earlier in somewhat easier fashion. Cherish Moss scored 18 points and her sister Cierra added 15 in an 81-59 home win.

Smith had 15 points, five steals and seven rebounds, and Laster added 11 boards for the victory.

Diamond Carter led the Rangers with 14 points.

PC finishes the regular season with away dates this week, taking on Skagit Valley on Feb. 24 and Shoreline on Feb. 27.

The NWAC tournament is slated for March 10-13 in Everett.