Box Score




NAMPA, Idaho — The Crusaders fell into a scoring drought that proved both frustrating, and fatal on the scoreboard.

In control in front 38-31 at the halftime break, Northwest Nazarene's offense stalled in the second half, allowing visiting Seattle Pacific to slowly take advantage and score a 68-63 win over the host Crusaders in Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball at the Johnson Sports Center on Thursday night.

"They hit big shots in tight situations and we missed some big shots in tight situations," NNU head coach Steve Steele said.

"I'm glad we're getting good looks, and we sure fought tonight."

NNU (7-10 overall, 5-6 GNAC) fought its way out to a 38-31 lead in the first half thanks to stingy defense that allowed the Falcons to shoot just 33.3 percent from the field (10-of-30).
 

On the other end of the floor, the Crusaders turned tough D into good offense as two Raquel Jardine free throws put NNU on top 14-8 in the opening quarter, a Marina Vallés layup gave the hosts a 30-24 lead midway through the second stanza, and a Lexi Tubbs 3-pointer sent the Crusaders into the break on top, 38-31.

But the Crusaders stalled offensively out of the second-half gate and the Falcons (14-5, 6-5) cashed in with a 11-1 run, taking a 42-39 lead after a Jordan McPhee 3-point play.

"When we stay aggressive on defense we're good, when we back off a little bit —I think we saw that tonight," Steele said of SPU's quick comeback.

From there the teams traded baskets, and the lead, until the final few minutes when Courtney Hollander had four points in a decisive 8-0 spurt by the Falcons, who went up 64-57 on an Erica Pagano jumper with 1:40 to play, then held off the Crusaders.

Ellie Logan led the way for NNU with 12 points, while Tubbs added 10 points and six rebounds for the Crusaders, who look to bounce back when they host Concordia on Saturday night at 5:15 p.m. in the final game of a four-game homestand.