Boxscore
NAMPA, Idaho – Chelsie Luke scored a game-high 24 points for the Crusaders but 5th-ranked Western Washington University was able to hold on for a 70-66 Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory tonight at the Johnson Sports Center, bringing to an end the Crusaders nine-game winning streak.
Luke, who scored 18 of her game-high effort in the first half, led the Crusaders and was joined in double-figures by Megan Hingston's 14 point – 11 rebound double-double.
“I was really proud of our effort, especially the pressure we put on their guards, which made it tougher for them to establish an inside attack,” commented NNU head coach Kelli Lindley. “Give credit to Western Washington, they made it really tough on us and were well balanced. They are a really experienced team.
NNU (14-3, 6-3 GNAC) trailed 35-30 at the half but was able to grab their first lead of the second half after an Ellen Ferrenburg jumper made it 42-41 with 14:58 to play. Exchanging baskets, the Crusaders broke the third tie of the game with a 4-0 run on buckets by Taylor Simmons and Luke to build their largest lead of the half at 52-48 with 10:45 to go.
The Vikings (15-2, 9-0 GNAC) answered with a 10-1 run, capped by a Corinn Waltrip lay-in to give WWU a 58-53 edge with 6:35 remaining. The Crusaders would rally to tie once more at 58-58 on a Heather Adams three-pointer, but the Vikings out-scored the Crusaders 12 to eight in the final five minutes of action to claim the win and hold on to sole possession of first place in the GNAC at 8-0.
Simmons finished with eight points for the Crusaders, Ferrenburg added six and Adams had five. Kylee Schierman grabbed 11 rebounds and eight points as the Crusaders out-rebounded the Vikings 44-39.
Waltrip and Trishi Williams each scored 14 for the Vikings and Britt Harris netted 13.
NNU forced 23 Viking turnovers and had 10 steals, three each by Luke and Simmons.
“Chelsie (Luke) really carried us in the first half and then we were much more balanced after halftime,” Lindley added. “Megan (Hingston) stepped up in the second half but I thought their depth was a key factor in the win for them.”
The Crusaders will be on the road next weekend, playing at Central Washington next Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
