Boxscore

NAMPA, Idaho - Briaunna King scored a game-high 18 points to lead the Northwest Nazarene women's basketball team to a 65-50 victory over Western Oregon tonight in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game at the Johnson Sports Center.

King, who scored 16 of her 18 in the second half, led four Crusaders into double-figures as Megan Hingston scored 14, Falissa Smith netted 13 and Chelsie Luke added 10.

NNU, who clinched a GNAC post-season berth last weekend, improves to 16-9 overall and 10-7 in GNAC play.  This weekend's games will decide the seeding heading into next week's conference tournament in Lacey, Washington.

NNU (16-9, 10-7 GNAC) out-rebounded the Wolves 40-34, led by King with eight and Luke with seven, and forced 23 WOU turnovers.  10 of the 23 turnovers came on steals, led by Alla Dzhidzhiyeshvili with a game-high five.

Lorrie Clifford led WOU with 15 points and six rebounds and Rylee Peterson scored 11 and also grabbed six rebounds.

The Crusaders bolted to an early 18-3 lead before Western Oregon clawed back to within five points (25-20) at halftime.

The Wolves completed the comeback in the second half twice earning ties (at 31-33 and 33-33).

Dzhidzhiyeshvili put NNU back ahead on a jumper and King had two free throws and a basket to make it 39-33.

After Western Oregon pulled back to within two at 39-37, the Crusaders finally took control scoring seven consecutive points, including four by King and three by Falissa Smith who scored 10 of her 13 points in the second period.

Another 7-0 run, which also featured four points by King and three by Smith stretch NNU's lead to 63-47 with 1:47 remaining.

While the Crusaders shot just 38.5-percent (25-65) from the floor, NNU held the Wolves to 34.7-percent (17-49) from the field and 23.1-percent (3-13) from the three-point line.  NNU finished a perfect 13 for 13 from the free throw line and handed out 12 assists.  Smith led the Crusaders with four handouts.

The Crusaders will play their final game of the regular season on Saturday night when they host Saint Martin's University at 7:00 p.m.  A pre-game ceremony will honor the four Crusader seniors in their final home court appearance.