NU's Emily Drivstuen (left) scored 18 points in the loss.
Simpson Slips Past Northwest
REDDING, Calif. - The NU Eagles found themselves in a close game for the second consecutive game as Simpson University edged the Eagles, 70-68, today in a non-conference contest.
The Eagles led early in the first half taking a 13-7 lead after Ebany Herd's basket in the paint with 16:14 to go in the period, but Simpson would battle back to tie the game at 13-all and take a 15-13 lead as Ariassa Wilson sank a 2-pointer at the 13:19 mark. SU's lead would hold up for 7 minutes until the 6:33 mark when Emily Drivstuen's steal and lay-up would knot the score at 21-21. Simpson would re-take the lead and increase it to 5 points, 30-25, with 2:50 remaining. The Eagles Jenna Lewis would pull NU to within 4 points with her basket with 59 seconds left as Simpson would take a 34-30 lead at the break.
Simpson would lead the entire second half until the 8:18 mark when Jessalyn Jackson's steal would lead to a Carol Howard score to put NU up 54-53. Four more points by Jackson in the paint would increase the Eagle lead to 5, 58-53, with 6:35 to go in the game. Simpson would chip away at the NU lead and find themselves down by one, 66-65, with 1:51 to go and Bekah Eppler would give Su the lead, 67-66 with her deuce at the 1:05 mark. SU would sink two free throws after a NU technical foul to lead 69-68, with just 36 seconds to go and would make one of 2 free throws with 10 seconds to go, 70-68. Carol Howard's shot in the paint would miss its mark with 3 seconds to go, Jessalyn Jackson would rebound the ball, but her shot would not find its mark.
Emily Drivstuen and Jessalyn Jackson led Northwest (1-2) with 18 points each. Jackson added 11 rebounds to register a double-double for the game. Carol Howard scored 11 points and Ashley Coila added 8 for the Eagles. NU out rebounded SU, 31-23 and shot 44% for the game.
Bekah Eppler led Simpson with her 15 points while teammates Brook Blaisdell and Ariassa Wilson each scored 12 points. Simpson shot 36% from 2-point range and 33% from the 3-point line.
The Eagles will return to Kirkland and will host Puget Sound on Tuesday night, Nov. 15 in the Pavilion.