The NCU bench erupts after Jenna Christenson's winning free throws.
Heartbreaker for Geoducks as Beacons Prevail
Jenna Christenson swished a pair of free throws with 0.5 seconds to play Friday night as Northwest Christian rallied for a 50-49 Cascade Collegiate Conference women's basketball victory over The Evergreen State College inside Costantino Recreation Center.
The Beacons (15-7 overall, 12-3 CCC) scored the final eight points after trailing 49-42 with 2:52 to play.
It was a heartbreaking loss for the Geoducks (4-19, 3-13), who had the ball and a 49-48 lead with less than 10 seconds remaining but missed a pair of free throws with five seconds to play. Hannah Eddens grabbed the rebound and got the ball to Christenson, who dribbled up the floor before being tripped about five feet outside of the top of the key. She calmly hit the free throws for the Beacons victory.
The Geoducks put together their best defensive effort of the season as Northwest Christian's 50 points were the fewest scored by an Evergreen opponent this season. In addition, the Beacons were just 15-for-52 from the field, or 29 percent, but still managed to pick up the victory.
Both team shot the ball poorly throughout the game, and in fact the Geoducks missed their first 13 shots before consecutive layins by Zaria Jones and Imani Dunn gave the hosts a 9-7 lead after the first quarter.
The contest stayed close throughout, other than when the Geoducks went on a nice run in the third quarter. After leading 24-21 at the intermission, Evergreen went on a 12-3 burst to take its largest lead of the game at 36-24 with 4:40 in the period. Northwest Christian pulled within four points by the end of the period, however, setting up an intense fourth quarter.
After Autumn Moorcroft buried a three-pointer from the top of the key to give Evergreen its 49-42 lead inside of three minutes remaining, the team would not score again. That, as it turned out, let the door open for the Beacons.
Conner Borigo hit a layup, Christenson nailed a three and Hanna Mack dropped a free throw to make it 49-48 before Christenson stepped to the line and won the game.
Evergreen guards Corina Tacardon and Zaria Jones both played 40 minutes and led the team in scoring, Tacardon with 13 points and Jones with 11. Gabi Fenumiai led all players with 13 rebounds. The Geoducks ended the game shooting 31 percent (18-for-59) overall.
Christenson and Borigo both scored 11 points to lead the Beacons, who played without injured scoring leaders Monique Thompson and Niki Duncan. Hanna Mack added eight points, seven rebounds and three blocks for the winners. Northwest Christian ended up winning the rebound battle, 44-42.
Both teams are in action tomorrow, Evergreen hosting Corban and Northwest Christian playing at Northwest in Kirkland.