Emily Drivstuen Led Northwest U. with 19 points.
Eagles Strong Second half Downs Beacons
KIRKLAND, Wash. – Northwest University outscored Northwest Christian 45-27 in the second half to earn a 81-57 Cascade Conference win over the Beacons.
Northwest U. led 16-6 early in the first half but Northwest Christian would battle back to make it a 5 point game, 17-12, with 11:10 left in the half. Northwest Christian’s defense held the scoring down and the CCC’s leading scorer, Jessalyn Jackson, scoreless for the entire first half. Northwest U. would maintain a 5 to 7 point lead for most of the half, but that lead would grow to 11, 30-19, after Emily Drivstuen’s 3 pointer at the 2:44 mark. But the Beacons would outscore Northwest 11-4 after two Kelsey Atkins free throws to cut the Eagles lead to four, 34-30, with 19 seconds left in the half. Domi Mendezona would tip in a missed 3 point attempt to give NU a 36-30 lead at the half.
In the second half and with Northwest U. holding on to a 40-37 lead, they would go on a 12-2 run with Jessalyn Jackson scoring 6 of those points. Northwest would shoot 50% in each half tonight while Northwest Christian would struggle shooting 29% from the field. As the Beacons shooting woes would continue, Northwest U. would heat up and Ebany Herd’s jumper with 8:57 remaining in the game would grow the Eagle lead to 20 points, 61-41. Shannon Harte would come off the NCU bench to give the Beacons a spark and after two straight Harte baskets, Northwest Christian pulled to within 15, 64-49. But it wouldn’t be enough as Northwest would increase their lead to 23 points once again after two free throws by Domi Mendezona and a 3 pointer by Emily Drivstuen with just 1:43 to go in the game.
Northwest U. (9-10, 5-6 CCC) had four players in double figures led by Emily Drivstuen’s 19 points. Sophomore guard Domi Mendezona scored 15 points and handed out 5 assists while Jessalyn Jackson scored 14 second half points and grabbed 13 rebounds for another double-double. Senior Ebany Herd added 12 points and 8 rebounds for the Eagles. NU also out rebounded NCU 45-39.
Northwest Christian (9-14, 1-10 CCC) was led by point guard Aly Brun’s 14 points. Shannon Harte came off the bench to score 11 points and added 7 rebounds in 14 minutes of play while Lindsey Shearer contributed 9 points and 6 rebounds for the Beacons who shot 29% for the game, 21% from the 3 point line.
“I was proud of how the team responded after last night’s loss,” said Lori Napier, Eagle head coach. “Everyone had a great attitude and contributed to the win.”
Northwest U. now travels to Eastern Oregon and the College of Idaho this weekend for more conference play and Northwest Christian returns home to Eugene, Ore., to host Corban University on Friday, January 27.