WPC's Chelsey Christensen finished with a game high 32 points.
Warner Pacific Gets By Northwest in Overtime
KIRKLAND, Wash. – Warner Pacific’s Chelsey Christensen scored 32 points and grabbed 16 rebounds as the Knights edged Northwest University tonight, 76-69, in overtime.
Warner Pacific took a 33-26 lead at the half as Christensen led the Knights with 11 points and 6 rebounds. NU’s Jessalyn Jackson had 12 points and 9 rebounds as the Eagles shot 42%. WPC led until the 6:33 mark when Jessalyn Jackson hit 4 straight points to tie the score at 18-18. After another tie, Northwest would take the lead by four, 26-22, on a Jackson jumper from 12 feet. Christensen answered with a 3 pointer to make it a one point ball game, 26-25, and then Nicole Jackson started an 8-0 Warner Pac run to put the Knights up 33-26 with 6 seconds left in the half.
In the second half, Warner Pacific would lead once again building their distance to 10 points on Meaghan White’s layup in the paint, 50-40. But, back would come the Eagles as they would slowly whittle the Knight lead down to one point, 53-52 on a layup by Ebany Herd and two free throws by Jessalyn Jackson. The game would remain tight the rest of the way as Northwest’s Domi Mendezona would give NU the lead 59-57 with her two free throws with 49 seconds to go. After a missed 3 pointer by WPC, Mendezona was fouled and made just one of two free throws leaving the door open for Warner Pacific with 15 seconds on the clock and NU’s Ebany Herd would foul Cameryn Calhoun on her trey attempt with .9 seconds remaining to send her to the free throw line. Calhoun calmly sank all three of her shots knotting the score at 60-60 as Northwest’s would not get a last second shot off before the buzzer.
The overtime period would swing back and forth with three ties and lead changes, but Chelsey Christensen would give the Knights a three point lead with 38 seconds to go, 72-69. A bench technical on Northwest with 23 seconds remaining would give Cameryn Calhoun two free throws which she would knock down to increase the WPC lead to five, 74-69 with 20 seconds left in the period. Two free throws by Kelsey Mattsen with two seconds reaming would give the Knights their 17th win of the season.
Domi Mendezona would lead Northwest U. (10-13, 6-9 CCC) with 24 points. Jessalyn Jackson recorded her 17th double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds and Emily Drivstuen would finish with 15 points. The Eagles shot 37% for the night on only 21% from the 3 point line.
In addition to Christensen’s game high of 32 points, Kelsey Mattsen and Meaghan White each scored 11 points for the Knights (17-8 11-3 CCC). WPC managed only 27% shooting in regulation, but burned the nets with 67% shooting in the overtime period. WPC hit only 2 of 19 three pointers for 10.5% shooting from beyond the 3 point line.
Northwest U. travels to Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech next weekend as Warner Pacific returns to Portland to host Northwest Christian and Corban University on Friday and Saturday night.