Box Score

FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Somehow, the Crusaders found a way.

Trailing by eight points late on the road, the Northwest Nazarene women's basketball team battled back in the final two minutes of regulation, forcing overtime, then rode that momentum to an 84-77 victory over host Alaska in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action late Thursday night.

"I'm really proud of our team's grit and fight," NNU head coach Steve Steele said. "It wasn't pretty, but it never is in Alaska.

"Any road win in the GNAC is a big deal, and especially any win in Alaska."

Things looked bleak for the Crusaders — and not just because the temperature outside was dipping down to about 20-below zero.

Down 64-56 with 2 ½ minutes left, NNU didn't quit as a Danielle Jardine putback got the comeback started.

NNU then got some help from the host Nanooks, who went 2-for-6 at the free-throw line and committed a turnover trying to protect the lead late.

The Crusaders (7-6 overall, 5-4 GNAC) cashed in as a Lexi Tubbs bucket trimmed the difference to 64-60, and an Ellie Logan layup made it a 64-62 ballgame in the final minute.

The Nanooks got one free throw before an Ellie Logan lay-in made it a 1-point game, and after the Nanooks tossed in 1-of-2 freebies, Danielle Jardine forced overtime with a layup off a Kaitlyn Merritt assist, tying the score at 66-66.

"When the going got tough, we went full throttle and I think that's what I'm most proud of tonight," Steele said. "We didn't play it safe when the game got tight."

Having rallied to force overtime, NNU kept the throttle down in the extra session as an Ellie Logan 3-pointer opened overtime and put the Crusaders on top for good.

Kate Cryderman added in six points in a 13-4 start to overtime for the Crusaders, who after being down eight late used a 23-6 run to secure the comeback victory.

Tubbs finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds in the win for the Crusaders, who also got 17 points and eight boards from Ellie Logan.

Danielle Jardine added 10 points and nine rebounds, and Carly Parker scored 10 points as well for NNU, which now continues its road trip to Alaska with a big test Saturday night as the Crusaders play at No. 7-ranked Alaska Anchorage at 9 p.m. (Mountain time).