Box Score

MONMOUTH, Ore. — The Crusaders made sure this one wasn't close enough for Western Oregon to make a comeback.

The Northwest Nazarene women's basketball team used a 15-0 run in the first quarter to break the game open early then rolled Thursday night to a 77-59 road win in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play over the Wolves.

"I'm really proud of our defensive effort tonight," NNU head coach Steve Steele said. "It allows us to share minutes and get everyone involved on the offensive side when we are getting stops."

The Crusaders forced five turnovers and held the host Wolves scoreless for 6 ½ minutes during a charge that stretched a 9-7 lead to a commanding 24-7 advantage. On the night, NNU forced 23 turnovers and held WOU to 20-of-54 (37.0 percent) shooting.

Lexi Tubbs and Marina Vallés each had four points in the run, which was capped by a Kate Cryderman 3-pointer with 45 seconds gone in the second quarter.

Western Oregon — which erased a 14-point deficit to top NNU, 78-75, in Nampa last month — tried to make another valiant comeback, getting as close as 31-23 down in the opening minute of the second half, but this time the Crusaders would have none of it.

A Danielle Jardine layup off an Ellie Logan assist pushed NNU in front 39-26, and a McKenna Walker jumper with a minute left in the third made it a 54-37 ballgame.

The Crusaders kept the pressure on in the final stanza, too, pushing the lead to 20 points three times, and to 77-56 on a Tubbs layup, before settling for the 18-point victory.

"I was happy with how we took care of and shared the ball tonight," Steele said.

"Three of our leading scorers came off the bench. I love to see that," NNU's coach added. "It means we are sharing the ball."

Those three "bench" players were Tubbs with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Vallés and Danielle Jardine each added 11 points. Jardine also had five assists for NNU, which got 14 points from starter, Walker.

The win helps to fortify the Crusaders position in the top six in the GNAC with three games left in the league race. The top six make the conference tournament.

The next step toward the playoffs for NNU comes Saturday night at Concordia at 7 p.m. (Mountain time).