Lady Cruiser Basketball Sweeps Week, Highlighted by Bailey Andersen’s Historic Scoring Record
A 24-year-old record fell at Rainier Connect Arena on Friday night as Eatonville High School senior Bailey Andersen etched her name in the history books, becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer in girls’ basketball. The milestone highlighted an impressive week for the Eatonville Lady Cruisers, who secured two decisive victories to improve to 9-3 overall and remain unbeaten in league play at 6-0.
The Eatonville Lady Cruiser basketball posed for a photo following their win over Orting and Bailey Andersen's record breaking performance. Photo: Heather Quirie
In front of a packed house brimming with energy, Andersen surpassed Liz Clark’s record of 1,262 points, which had stood for nearly a quarter century. The historic moment came early in the second quarter of Eatonville’s commanding 56-16 win over rival Orting, as Andersen corralled a Cardinal turnover and finished a layup with 6:15 on the clock.
“It’s a pretty surreal feeling,” Andersen said after the game. “I still don’t know if it’s fully set in yet.”
The crowd erupted in a standing ovation as play stopped momentarily, after a Cardinal turnover, to celebrate the feat. Andersen’s teammates swarmed her with hugs, and even a few Orting players offered congratulations.
While Andersen’s achievement was the highlight of the night, it was a team effort that propelled the Cruisers to victory. Lillian Bickford delivered a standout performance with a double-double, tallying 19 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks. Hailey Hall dominated the boards as well, grabbing 10 rebounds and adding six points.
Head Coach Deanna Andersen, who is also Bailey’s mother, credited the team’s unity and defensive intensity for their success.
“I am so proud of how the girls play as a team,” Coach Andersen said. “While Bailey had a good night, we still feed our other players, and we won the game with Lillian being the top scorer and both Lillian and Hailey having a great game.”
The Cruisers set the tone early, opening the game with a 13-0 run punctuated by a Bailey Andersen three-pointer that ignited the crowd. Eatonville’s defense smothered Orting, forcing 31 turnovers in the game, including nine in the second quarter alone. By halftime, the Cruisers held a commanding 34-10 lead and never looked back, outscoring the Cardinals 22-6 in the second half.
“We’ve taken our defense up a notch, and it’s paying off with lots of girls getting deflections and steals, allowing us to control the tempo of games,” Coach Andersen added.
Bailey Andersen, who finished the game with 16 points, six assists, four rebounds, and six steals, reflected on the significance of the night and the support she’s received throughout her career.
“I am so incredibly grateful for the crowd and community that showed up on Friday,” she said. “It really showed the Eatonville Cruiser spirit. The energy was unmatched, and there’s no better feeling than that.”
Andersen credited her success to the people who have supported her along the way, including her mother, her AAU coaches, and her family.
“My mom has always been my #1 supporter—not only as a coach but as the parent who drove me to every practice and every game,” she said. “I also want to thank my dad, my friends, and especially my grandparents for always being there for me no matter what.”
When asked if she had her sights set on Eatonville’s boy’s all-time scoring record, held by Jordon Osborn at 1,463 points, Andersen didn’t shy away.
“I’ll definitely chase that record as well, but at the end of the day, it’s all about getting the wins and getting to state,” she said. “All the rest is in God’s timing.”
Andersen was quick to emphasize the role her teammates have played in her journey.
“None of this would be possible without my team,” she said. “Over the last four years, they’ve put in so much time and work. I’ve been playing with some of these girls for as long as I can remember, so being where we are now with them has been a dream come true.”
“The love and support in that gym last night for Bailey and the team was amazing,” Coach Andersen said. “What a great community vibe.”
Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, the Eatonville Cruisers hosted the Clover Park Timberwolves in an exciting matchup that resulted in a decisive 63-50 victory for Eatonville. The game was highlighted by an outstanding performance from Andersen, who delivered a season-best showing and achieved her first-ever triple-double. Andersen lit up the scoreboard with an impressive 31 points, dished out 10 assists to set up her teammates, and dominated the boards with 11 rebounds, showcasing her all-around talent and leadership on the court.
She wasn’t the only Cruiser to make an impact, as Bickford contributed significantly with 14 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, adding both offensive and defensive power to the team’s efforts. Hall was another key player in Eatonville’s victory, pulling down an impressive 12 rebounds to control the paint and chipping in 8 valuable points to help secure the win.
The Lady Cruisers, who sit atop the 2A SPSL standings, will hit the road Thursday to face the Foss Falcons at 6 pm before returning home for back-to-back games against Washington at 6 pm on Friday and R.A. Long at 1:30 pm on Saturday.
With their defense clicking and their offense firing on all cylinders, the team is poised to continue their strong season and make a deep run in the postseason.
If this week was any indication, the Lady Cruisers will have plenty more to celebrate in the games ahead.
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