KIRKLAND, Wash. – Warner Pacific pulled out a 67-55 Cascade Conference victory over Northwest University in the final regular season game for both teams and earns the #5 seed in the CCC post season tournament.

 

Northwest U. led early in the first half as NU’s Jessalyn Jackson made two free throws to give the Eagles a 16-9 lead with 11:07 to go until halftime. NU would lead 22-14 after a Carleigh Newman lay-up and two free throws at the 6:03 mark, but Warner Pacific would go on a 8-0 run to tie the score at 22-all on Kelsey Mattsen’s lay-up with 2:28 left in the half. Mattsen would score again on a tip in off a Marissa Boyd miss and the Knights would take their first lead of the game, 24-22, with just 1:31 left on the clock. NU’s Rachel Mitchell would tie the game up at 24-24 with 24 seconds to go but Kelsey Mattsen would once again give WPC the lead 26-24 with 10 seconds to go and the score would stand as the teams headed into the locker room.

 

In the second half, Warner Pacific would maintain their lead over NU the entire way and Marissa Towry’s jumper would give the Knights a 10 point cushion, 40-30 at the 13:55 mark. Each time Northwest would make a charge, WPC would answer. With 7:34 to go in the game, Dani Drivstuen would pull NU to within six points, 49-43, but the Knights would answer with a 5-2 run to get their lead back to nine, 54-45, with 4:37 to go in the contest. Warner Pac would go 7 for 8 from the free throw line down the stretch to seal the victory.

 

Senior Brittany Bowsher led Northwest U. (9-20, 7-13 CCC) with 15 points and 5 rebounds. Teammate and senior guard, Rachel Mitchell would add 12 points for the Eagles who were held to 25% shooting for the game and 14% shooting from the 3-point line.

 

“I felt we played well over all,” commented NU head coach Lori Napier. “Our shots just wouldn’t fall. We are looking forward to having another shot at Concordia,” Napier concluded.

 

Warner Pacific’s (14-15, 10-10 CCC) Kelsey Mattsen led all scorers with 19 points while Jacque Barton scored a double-double on the night with 12 points and 10 rebounds. WPC held the rebounding edge over NU, 37-36, and shot 42% for the game from 2-point range and 38.5% from beyond the 3-point line.

 

Northwest U. takes the #8 seed into the CCC Tournament and will face #1 seed and conference champion, Concordia in Portland, Ore. on Tuesday, February 24 at 7:30 p.m. Warner Pacific earns the #5 seed and will travel to LaGrande, Ore. To take on #4 seed Eastern Oregon on Tuesday.