NU guard Domi Mendezona scored 16 points tonight.
Jackson Leads Northwest Over Southern Oregon
KIRKLAND, Wash. – Jessalyn Jackson returned to form with a 23 point, 11 rebound night to lead Northwest University over Southern Oregon, 81-71, in Cascade Conference play.
The two teams battled back and forth for the first 13 minutes of the first half with 5 ties and 6 lead changes as neither team could gain the upper hand. At the 7:41 mark and with the game tied for the fifth time at 27-all, Northwest would go on an 11-1 run to go up 38-28 as Jackson would score 6 straight points. Southern Oregon refused to back down and would finish the half with a 4-0 run to make it a six point game at the half, 40-34, on free throws by and a driving layup in the paint by Angelica Cahee.
Northwest would start the second half outscoring the Raiders 12-3 in the first four and a half minutes of the period to lead by 15, 52-37 with 15:30 on the clock. Southern would make another run at NU and outscore the Eagles 4-0 on a tip in and two free throws by Nalani Hernandez at the 12:09 mark (54-48), but a 9-0 run by Northwest would increase their lead to 15 points, 63-48, with 8:44 left in the game. A 3 pointer by NU’s Carol Howard would give NU their largest lead, 17 points, 42 seconds later—68-51. Domi Mendezona would go 4 for 4 from the free throw line down the stretch to cap off the ten point win.
Four players led Northwest U. (8-9, 4-5 CCC) in double figures. In addition to Jackson’s double-double, Emily Drivstuen added 18 points, Domi Mendezona scored 16 points and Carol Howard added 12 points for the Eagles. NU shot 43% in each half and hit 72% of their free throws (16-22).
Southern Oregon (12-8, 3-6 CCC) was led by Haley Newell’s 19 points while teammates Josi McDermott and Angelica Hernandez teamed up for 11 points each. 6-2 sophomore, Kiara Moore led SOU with 10 rebounds as SOU dominated the rebounding category with a 60-48 margin. Half of the Raiders rebounds offensive boards as they grabbed 30. Southern Oregon shot a cool 28% on the night and 24% from the 3 point line.
Said coach Lori Napier of Northwest U., “I was proud of the way our team rebounded from last night’s loss. They were focused tonight.”