MONMOUTH, Ore. – Senior Katie Collins hit a trio of free-throws with one second remaining in regulation and Senior Lindsey Shearer scored 24 as the Northwest Christian University women’s basketball team defeated WOU in overtime on Saturday, 65-64.
After trailing by as many as 19 points in the first half, NCU was down by thirteen at halftime, 29-16, after shooting just 21% from the field in the opening frame. The Beacons, however, stormed back onto the court for the second half with a vengeance, utilizing a 22-5 run to open the half, taking a 38-34 lead with 9:49 remaining.
An Andrea Gloss free-throw with 6:57 to play put the Beacons up by six, their largest margin of the game. Western slowly chipped away, finally getting back on top at the 3:17 mark when a three-pointer by Lorrie Clifford gave the Wolves a 46-43 edge. After briefly giving the lead back to NCU, Clifford was at it again, hitting a trey to make it 49-47.
Another Clifford bucket gave the Wolves a four-point lead, but the Beacons clawed back to within one off a Shearer three-pointer with 31 seconds remaining. WOU converted a pair of free throws on their next possession, giving the Beacons one final chance to tie the game. Collins was then fouled on a three-point shot attempt at the buzzer and as if with ice in her veins, calmly knocked down all three shots at the charity stripe to send the game into overtime, tied 53-53.
The teams traded leads to open the extra frame and Western was ahead 57-55 when four straight points from Shearer would put the Beacons on top for good. A pair of Aly Bruns free-throws with 12 seconds remaining gave NCU a three-point edge and the Wolves could only muster a layup as time expired to climb back within one point.
Head Coach Liz Turner-Bolton said, “We started out tentatively tonight but we made some good adjustments at halftime. Our defensive intensity really picked up and our veterans stepped up tonight. This was a great win for our program and I’m proud of their willingness to get after it, even after being down big in the first half.”
The Beacons (10-6) were led by reigning CCC Player of the Week Shearer, who used her birthday as an opportunity to defeat her former team behind 24 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Tami Brown added twelve points and four steals in her first start of the season and freshman post Gloss came off the bench to register a double-double with 14 points and ten rebounds. Bruns finished with just two points but led the way with six assists and four steals. Collins ended the evening with eight points as her only free-throw attempts came in that final second of regulation.
Western Oregon (5-7) was led by Clifford and Mariah Durian, scoring 14 points apiece. Chantel Divilbiss punched in ten points off the bench while Whitney Rodriguez came in off the pine to score eight points and ten boards. WOU shot 30% in the game and was forced into 22 turnovers.
NCU will jump back into Cascade Collegiate Conference action next Friday when they play host to Eastern Oregon University. The Mountaineers (15-2) are currently undefeated in the CCC and are ranked No. 9 in the NAIA national coaches poll.