Northwest U's Jessica Wilkerson led the Eagles with 37 points.
NU Defeats EOU in Double OT
KIRKLAND, Wash. – Northwest University defeated Eastern Oregon in double overtime tonight led by Jessica Wilkerson’s 37 points.
With Eastern leading 16-15 at the 9:16 mark in the first half, Northwest U. would goon a 6-0 run to re-take the lead at 21-15 on a Marielle McKean free throw shot. The Eagles would maintain the a close lead the remainder of the half as EOU’s Shaylee Nelson would bring the Mountaineers back to within 2 points, 31-29 as the half would.
The second half would see Northwest U. build a 10 point lead (45-35) with 15:10 to go in the game, but the Mounties would not go away that easily as Kelsea Hurliman would cut NU’s lead to 6 at 48-42 with 13:35 to go. Northwest would maintain a 6 to 7 point lead until the 7:39 mark when EOU would begin to slowly cut into their lead. A 3-pointer by EOU’s Kyle Miller would cut NU’s lead to three, 58-55, and with 6:20 to go, Samantha Flett would make it a two point ball game, 62-60, with her trey. Two free throws by Ashley Michelson would knot the game at 62-62 with 5:35 on the clock. NU would take a slim, 72-70 lead on A Jessica Wilkerson 3-pointer, but EOU’s Ashley Michelson was fouled with 24 seconds left in the game and calmly stepped up to the free throw line and canned both shots to tie the game at 72, sending the game into the first overtime.
The first overtime would see saw back and forth but a jumper by Wilkerson and Marielle McKean would give NU an 80-79 lead with a minute to go. Marielle McKean would foul EOU’s Ashley Michelson with 38 seconds to go and give the Mounties a chance at the win. Michelson would make the first and miss the second attempt, sending the game into its second over time period.
A Kyle Miller jumper would put EOU up 85-82 with 3:44 left in the OT period but jumpers by NU’s Marielle McKean and Ebany Herd would put the Eagles back into the lead, 86-85 and for good. NU would go 5 for 6 from the charity stripe to pull out their first CCC win to even their conference record at 1-1 and EOU would also even their CCC mark at 1-1.
Wilkerson add 7 rebounds to her game high 37 points while teammate Erika Hornyak added 14 points, Marielle McKean dropped in 11 and McKenzie McKean contributed 10 points and 8 rebounds for the Eagles (4-4, 1-1 CCC). NU shot 40% from 2-point range and 45% from the 3-point line and hit 90% of the free throws in the second half going 9 for 10.
Ashlee Michelson and Shaylee Neilsen each score 17 points for Eastern Oregon (7-4, 1-1 CCC) as Michelson completed a double-double on the night with 13 rebounds. Kelsea Hurliman score 15 points and grabbed 5 rebounds for the Mountaineers. EOU held the rebounding edge over NU, out boarding the Eagles 51-42.