Box Score



NAMPA, Idaho — Opening night isn't supposed to end like this.

The Northwest Nazarene women's basketball team made a thrilling comeback only to see Hawaii Pacific spoil that rally, and the season opener for the Crusaders on Friday night at the Johnson Sports Center in the NNU Tip-Off Classic, as the Sharks scored a 100-81 road win.

"We didn't look like we looked all fall," NNU head women's basketball coach Ryan Bragdon said, adding, "and obviously defense was not up to expectations."

But the Crusaders (0-1 overall) did make things thrilling as NNU charged back after trailing as much as 22-7 in the opening 7 minutes of action.

Lexi Tubbs ignited the comeback with a 3-pointer, and another 3-ball from the freshman guard, capped a 12-0 Crusader run that made the deficit just 22-19.
 

And the Crusaders kept coming, grabbing a 30-29 lead on a Cierra White fast-break layup with 5 1/2 minutes left in the opening half, and going up 37-34 after freshman Ellie Logan went on a personal 6-0 run for NNU.

But back-to-back 3s from Chenise Peone stopped NNU's surge and ignited a 14-2 run by HPU (1-0), which never let the lead slip away again.

"For whatever reason we came out flat and we never recovered from that," Bragdon said. "We made our run, but they handled it well."

The Crusaders got as close as 48-43 and 68-63 in the final 20 minutes, but never managed to re-take the lead as the Sharks got a stellar game from Peone, Kylie Huerta and Morganne Comstock, each recording double-doubles.

Peone had 15 points and 12 rebounds, Comstock added 25 points and 10 boards and Huerta set it all up with 14 assists and 12 points.

"They took advantage of our defensive breakdowns," Bragdon said, "that's what good teams do."

Tubbs led the way for NNU in the setback, scoring 22 points, while Logan added 17 points, Gall scored 11 and Katie Swanson had nine points and 10 rebounds for the Crusaders, who get the chance to bounce back quickly as they host California Baptist at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the second day of the NNU Tip-Off Classic.

A quick turnaround the Crusaders are looking forward to.

"Turn it around and kind of show what were about," Bragdon said, looking ahead.