St. George, Utah - Jennifer Williams knocked home a 10-foot baseline jump hook as time expired to lift the Northwest Nazarene University women's basketball team to a 62-61 victory over Dixie State College on Tuesday evening at the Dixie State Christmas Tournament at Burns Arena in St. George.

Williams' game-winner followed a three-pointer by Dixie State's Lindsey Chettinger with nine seconds left that gave the hosts a one-point lead at 61-60. NNU's Janee Olds grabbed the inbound pass and pushed the ball up the floor in the final seconds, finding Williams on the baseline for the decisive bucket. Williams finished with nine points and six rebounds.

The Crusaders, who improve to 6-1 overall, were led by Nichole Schutte who posted a game and career-high 21 points and also grabbed nine rebounds. Mallory Whipple also reached double-figures with 11 points and handed out a game-high six assists.

"Nicki (Schutte) really carried us tonight, putting us on her back and keeping us in the game," commented NNU head coach Kelli Lindley. "Jen struggled a little bit from the field tonight, but hit the shot when we needed it and that's all you can ask for." Williams finished three-for-12 from the floor, but was 3-for-4 from the free throw line.

NNU trailed 57-45 with 8:07 left, but constructed a 13-1 run, capped by a Schutte lay-in with 1:07 left to play that gave the Crusaders their first lead of the second half. NNU would hold Dixie to just four points in the final eight minutes of play.

Dixie State (4-4) was led by Chettinger's 14 points, that included a four-for-five effort from the three-point line, and Jessica Carver who posted the game's only double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

The Rebels out-rebounded the Crusaders 41-38 and finished six-for-12 from the three-point line.

Both teams were frigid from the free throw line, with each team shooting 56-percent with NNU going 18-of-32 and Dixie at 17-for-30. The Crusaders shot just 36-percent from the floor (21-58) and 33-percent from the three-point line (2-6), but forced 28 Rebel turnovers that NNU converted into 21 points.

The Crusaders will now face Cal State San Bernardino (6-1) on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. in the third game of the Dixie State Christmas Tournament. Fellow GNAC member Seattle Pacific (6-0) defeated CSUSB 75-54 in the opening game of the classic formatted tournament this afternoon.