Boxscore

NAMPA, Idaho - Kristin Hein finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, and four assists to earn MVP honors and lead the Northwest Nazarene University women's basketball team to a 73-66 victory over Grand Canyon University on Saturday afternoon in the final game of the NNU GNAC/PacWest Classic at the Johnson Sports Center.

 

The Crusaders (5-1) won the classic-formatted tournament title, winning on Friday 85-70 over Dixie State College, and were the only team to win both contests.  Seattle Pacific (4-1) bounced back from yesterday's defeat to down Dixie State 59-46 in today's early game.  Grand Canyon (4-2) defeated SPU 69-55 on Friday afternoon.

 

Joining Hein on the All-Tournament team were Lindsay Brady from NNU, Samantha Murphy from Grand Canyon, Megan Hoisington of Seattle Pacific, and Jessie Ingraham from Dixie State.

 

Beth Johnson and Janee Olds joined Hein in double-figures tonight with 14 and 13, respectively, as Olds finished with six rebounds and Johnson was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line.  Brady scored nine points and grabbed three rebounds.

 

Murphy led Grand Canyon with 19 points, five rebounds, and five assists, while Shareka Purnell added 13 points and nine rebounds, and Kia Gibson chipped in with 12 points and three assists.

 

The Crusaders shot 46-percent (26-56) from the floor and 71-percent (15-21) from the line, while the 'Lopes shot 44-percent (26-59) from the field and 90-percent (10-11) from the free throw line.

 

A tightly contested battle from the start, the 'Lopes jumped out to a 7-0 lead to start the game, however the Crusaders would answer and take a 37-31 lead into the halftime break. 

 

NNU's largest lead grew to 11 at 58-47 with 10:34 to play, but GCU rallied and a pair of Gibson free throws brought the 'Lopes to within two at 66-64 with just 66 seconds left.

 

Solid GCU half-court defense forced the Crusaders deep into the shot clock on the following possession and freshman point guard Heather Adams drained a three-pointer from the top of the key to put the Crusaders back up by five at 69-64 with 40 seconds remaining. 

 

Adams would add a free throw after a missed Murphy three point attempt and NNU would finish 4-for-6 from the line in the final 30 seconds of play to preserve the win.

 

NNU out-rebounded the 'Lopes 38-28 and both squads finished with an even assist-to-turnover ratio as NNU had 16 of each and GCU had 14 in both categories.

 

The Crusaders will travel to Arcata, Calif. next weekend to play in the Humboldt State University Classic on Friday and Saturday, facing CSU-Stanislaus on Friday and the host Lumberjacks from HSU on Saturday.