Boxscore

LOS ANGELES - The Northwest Nazarene University women's basketball team opened the GNAC/CCAA Challenge with a convincing 66-35 victory over Cal State Los Angeles on Friday evening at the Eagles Nest in Los Angeles.

The Crusaders (6-3) out-rebounded the Eagles 45-31 to dominate the glass, led by Katharina Schulte to Buhne with a game-high 10.

“Kat (Schulte to Buhne) was a monster on the glass tonight,” commented NNU coach Ryan McCarthy.  “She really played big in a very physical game and our defense communicated tonight the best we have this season.”

Schulte to Buhne added nine points as five Crusaders scored nine or more.  Chelsie Luke and Alla Dzhidzhiyeshvili each scored a game-high 10 and both Heather Adams and Briaunna King joined Schulte to Buhne with nine.

Holding CSLA to just 27.1-percent (13-48) from the floor and 0-of-13 from the three-point line, the Crusaders countered with eight three-pointers and a 14-of-17 effort from the free throw line.  NNU shot 37.9-percent (22-58) from the field and finished eight-of-19 (42.1-percent) from the arc.

Lacy Ramon led the Eagles (4-3) with 10 and Shatori Dearman added eight points and six rebounds.

Assisting in the Crusader rebounding effort, Beth Johnson and Dzhidzhiyeshvili each had seven and Johnson chipped in eight points.

NNU led 32-20 at the half and limited CSLA to just 15 second-half points.

The Crusaders will now face Cal Poly Pomona tomorrow afternoon.  CPP defeated Western Oregon 79-61 in the opening game of the classic-formatted tournament earlier today.