Box Score
 
LACEY, Wash. – The Northwest Nazarene University women's basketball team defeated two-time defending Great Northwest Athletic Conference champions Alaska Anchorage 65-60 in the first round of the GNAC tournament held on the campus of Saint Martins University in Lacey, Washington.
 
The Crusaders snapped the 7-game winning streak that the Seawolves held coming into tonight's action. NNU handed UAA their first loss in six GNAC tournament games.
 
The Crusaders took a 40-30 half time lead. Chelsie Luke knocked down 3 of 4 three-point buckets in the first half to lead NNU with 13 points going to the locker room. Megan Hingston chipped in 10 points in the first 20 minutes of action.
 
The Crusaders forced Alaska Anchorage to 13 turnovers, 8 of them coming from Sasha King.
 
Both teams fought hard in a defensive battle throughout the second half. The Crusaders forced 11 second half turnovers.
 
Luke finished the game with 16 points. Hingston had 14 points and a team-high 7 rebounds. Senior Heather Adams had 10 points and 5 assists for NNU. Adams knocked down two free throws with 3-seconds left to seal the win for the Crusaders.
 
Alysa Horn finished with 20 points on 8 of 14 shooting for the Seawolves. Sasha King had 17 points and Jenna Buchanan had 10 points and a game-high 9 rebounds.
 
The Crusaders were 24 of 65 (36.9-percent) from the floor and 12 of 16 (75.0-percent) from the free-throw line. The Seawolves shot 24 of 54 (44.4-percent) from the field and 8 of 19 (42.1-percent) from behind the three-point line.
 
NNU now advances to the second round of the GNAC tournament to face West Region No. 1 Western Washington University. The two teams will face off on Friday at 2:15 p.m. (PST) on the Campus of Saint Martin's University in Lacey, Washington.