NCC Battles Back to Upend Northwest, 60-54
KIRKLAND, Wash. – Northwest Christian battled back from a 13 point halftime deficit to defeat Northwest University, 60-54, in Cascade Conference play tonight in Kirkland.
Northwest U. came out fast in the first half breaking out to a 16-0 lead with 12:41 to go. A 3 pointer by Rachel Travis put the Eagles up 21-8 with 8:09 left in the half, but NCC went on a 5-0 run to pull to within 8, 21-13 with 5:51 to go. Northwest U. would out score Northwest Christian 13-8 to go into the locker room with a 34-21 lead.
The start the second half, the Beacons got things going with a 11-6 run to pull to within 8 points, 40-32, at the 16:32 mark. Elise Gray of NCC’s jumper at the 10:55 mark would cut NU’s lead to 44-39. The Eagles would hold Northwest Christian off and build their lead back up to 9 at 52-43 with 7:19 remaining but the Beacons were not to be denied and Lori Renner’s 3 pointer with 4:05 left in the contest would knot the score at 52 a piece. NU would lead by one (56-55) with 1:51 remaining, but Northwest Christian would regain the lead 57-56 on a tip in by Kristin Nelson with 1:09 on the clock. With 38 seconds left in the game and the score 58-56, NU’s Erika Hornyak was fouled by Elise Gray, but Hornyak, leading the CCC with a 89.6% free throw average missed both charity tosses and NCC would close out the game as Jacquie Lipp went 2 for 2 from the free throw line to ice the victory.
Northwest Christian (14-11, 8-7 CCC) was led by Amy Croll’s 15 points. Elise Gray contributed 12 points and teammates Jacquie Lipp and Kristin Nelson both scored 11 points a piece for the Beacons from Eugene, Oregon. NCC shot 41% from 2-point range in the second half going 12 for 29.
Junior Brittany Bowsher (Issaquah, WA) led Northwest U. (3-21, 2-14 CCC) with 23 points and 5 rebounds while freshman Erika Hornyak (Everett, WA) dropped in 11 points for the Eagles. NU opened the game shooting 38.5% from 2-point range but cooled to 27% shooting in the second stanza (9 for 33). Northwest U. out rebounded NCC 43-40.
Northwest U. will host the Eastern Oregon in Kirkland next Friday, February 15 while Northwest Christian travels to Olympia tomorrow for a game with the Evergreen State College at 5:30 p.m.