Box Score

NAMPA, Idaho – Off to a fast start, the Crusaders cooled off and it cost them.

Northwest Nazarene forged a quick 8-2 edge on visiting Simon Fraser before cooling off in a 75-57 loss to the Clan in Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball Saturday night at the Johnson Sports Center.

"Simon Fraser played a steady, consistent game from start to finish, and we struggled to finish plays on the offensive end," NNU coach Ryan Bragdon said.

Megan Hingston's bucket with 2 minutes, 6 seconds gone spotted NNU (12-9 overall, 5-8 GNAC) that early edge, but just a Katie Swanson free throw over the next 6:45 of play set the tone for the rest of the night.

Simon Fraser forged a 16-9 lead on Meg Wilson bucket before a Hingston bucket snapped the Crusader drought with 11:09 remaining in the first half.

But the Clan (14-6, 9-4) slowly stretched the lead, up 39-24 at halftime and stretching the margin to 59-31 in the second half en route to the win.

The Crusader offense – which is No. 2 in the nation in free-throw percentage (80.0), No. 2 in the GNAC in 3-point percentage (34.6) and No. 2 in the league in points per game (76.8) - struggled all night, hitting 21-of-61 from the field (34.4 percent), 15-of-23 from the free-throw line (65.2 percent) and going without a 3-pointer.

Despite that, Chelsie Luke led NNU with 17 points, seven rebounds and five steals while Taylor Simmons scored 14 points and Hingston added 10 for the Crusaders, who next play at Montana State Billings and Seattle Pacific on Thursday and Saturday.

The evenign was a special one, as the Crusaders joined the fight against women's cancer, hosting "Play4Kay" night, raising funds for the Kay Yow Fund, which fights women's cancers.