Jessalyn Jackson teamed with Domi Mendezona for 14 points a piece.
Northwest Holds Off Late UPS Surge for Victory
TACOMA, Wash. - The NU Eagles held off a late Logger surge as they defeated the University of Puget Sound, 78-74, tonight in a non-conference contest.
UPS took an early 7-4 lead three minutes into the first half, but a jumper by Jessalyn Jackson at the 16:50 mark would put the Eagles into the lead 8-7 and another jumper by Jackson 25 seconds later would increase the NU lead to six points (15-7). An 8-0 UPS run would help the Loggers tie the game at 15-all with 13:35 to go in the half, but the Eagles would go on a 14-2 run of their own to put them up, 29-17 capped off by two McKenzie McKean free throws preceded by a Domi Mendezona jumper and a Marielle McKean 3-pointer. A 3-pointer by Brittney Marshall would give the NU their largest lead, 34-20 at the 7:05 mark. UPS would chip away at the Eagle lead, but NU would hold on to take a 39-32 lead into the locker room at the half.
The Eagles (3-2) would maintain an 8 to 10 point lead a good part of the second half and Jessalyn Jackson would increase the Eagle lead to 14 points (59-45) with her jumper at the 10:09 mark. The Loggers would chip away the NU lead late in the game aided by a Kelsey McKinnis 3-pointer, a free throw by and jumper by Lindsay Layland which would pull UPS to within 4 with 21 seconds to go, but UPS would miss two 3-point attempts in the waning moments of the game as the Eagles would pull out the 78-74 victory.
Northwest University's Junior Jessalyn Jackson (Vancouver, Wash.) and freshman Domi Mendezona (Issaquah, Wash.) combined for 14 points a piece for the team high and senior Brittney Marshall (Snohomish, Wash.) added 12 points. Jackson added 8 rebounds to her totals to lead the Eagles. NU shot 50% for the game from 2-point FG range and hit 40% of their 3-point attempts (4-10). NU hit 79% of their free throws (22-28).
Puget Sound (0-1) was led by Kelsey McKinnis' game high 26 points and Joycelyn Riordan contributed 19 points and 7 rebounds. The Loggers held a 40-30 rebounding margin including 18 offensive boards.
NU will next travel to Spokane for the Whitworth Tournament on Nov, 19 and 20 when they face Whitman College and the tournament hosts, Whitworth in more non-conference play.