Box Score

HONOLULU, Hawaii – The Crusaders enjoyed more than fun in the sun on the Hawaiian islands, they also took care of some business on the hardwood Tuesday night.

The 17^th-ranked Northwest Nazarene women's basketball team unleashed its potent offensive attack as every player scored at least three points in the Crusaders' 96-53 rout of the host Chaminade Silverswords in nonconference action.

"We played a great team game tonight," NNU coach Ryan Bragdon said. "I felt it was our most complete 40-minute performance of the season so far.

"And we had great contributions off the bench," he added.

NNU started strong, scoring the opening eight points of the night and forging a 20-5 lead on a Kayla Schumann 3-pointer with 8 minutes, 7 seconds gone in the game.

Two Galcen Florita free throws got the Silverswords (1-6, 1-1 Pac West) as close as 24-15, but the Crusaders responded with an 8-0 run capped by two Cierra White free throws, and never looked back.

The lead grew to 47-22 on a Taylor Babbitt free throw with 2:04 until halftime and never shrunk below 22 points the rest of the night.

"It was great to see Taylor Babbitt have the opportunity to play in her hometown," Bragdon added of the 5-foot-7 redshirt freshman guard, Babbitt, who is from Mililani, Hawaii.

Babbitt finished with six points, two rebounds and a steal in her first of two homecoming games this week.  

Point guard Taylor Simmons led four players in double digits for NNU, matching her career high by scoring 20 points in the win, while Chelsea Luke tossed in 12 points and White and Megan Hingston each scored 11 for the Crusaders (8-1 overall, 1-1 GNAC).

Kylee Schierman added three points and 13 rebounds for NNU, which next plays at Hawaii Pacific at 5:30 p.m. (HT) on Thursday before taking two weeks off for the Christmas break.