Box Score

BILLINGS, Mont. — Win and you're in: The Crusaders did their part.

The Northwest Nazarene women clamped down on defense to stymie host Montana State Billings and earn a trip to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Tournament next week with a 63-53 victory Saturday night over the Yellowjackets.

"I'm really proud of our defensive effort tonight," NNU head coach Steve Steele said. "When shots aren't falling we have to be comfortable enough to rely on our defense, and tonight we did that.
 

"I'm glad we could extend our season, especially for (senior) Kate (Cryderman)."

Making just 2-of-14 shots in the first quarter and 19-of-55 for the game (32.1 percent), the Crusaders survived by forcing 22 turnovers, making 13 steals, and holding the hosts to 16-of-47 shooting (36.0 percent).

That allowed NNU (12-14 overall, 10-10 GNAC) to erase an 11-10 deficit after the opening quarter and even the score at 27-27 on a Lexi Tubbs 3-pointer just before halftime.

The Crusaders then took a small lead as a Carly Parker 3-point play followed by a Raquel Jardine 3-ball, to open the second half, made it a 33-27 contest.

NNU kept working hard from there as a McKenna Walker layup stretched the lead to 42-32 with 3 minutes left in the third, and a Tubbs 3 made it 55-43 with 4 minutes remaining in the game, virtually icing a victory that punched NNU's playoff ticket.

Tubbs led the way with 12 points and seven rebounds for NNU, which also got 12 points from Ellie Logan in the win.

The Crusaders now head to the GNAC Tournament hosted by St. Martin's in Lacey, Wash., where they will play Seattle Pacific on Thursday at 3:15 p.m. (Mountain time) in the fourth versus fifth seed game, as the two teams tied at 10-10 in league play.

The winner of Thursday's quarterfinal will play No. 2-ranked GNAC champion Alaska Anchorage in the semifinals on Friday at 3:15 p.m. (MT). The GNAC title game, with an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament awaiting the winner, will be Saturday at 6:15 (MT).