NAMPA, Idaho – Every game Avery Albrecht tries to affect the outcome in a different way.

It could be defense. It could be offense. It could be crashing the boards.

On Saturday during an 86-72 victory for the Northwest Nazarene women's basketball team, it was a mix of all three.

In the third quarter with NNU down 48-45 to Cal State Los Angeles, Albrecht hit a 3-pointer, forced a turnover, hit a jumper and then grabbed an offensive rebound and found a wide-open Carly Parker in the corner for another 3-pointer and a 54-48 lead.

"I think with every year you get different roles and you kind of don't know what that is until it starts," she said. "Each game I just try to see how I can make my team better whether that is rebounding it, passing it, driving it – you just kind of feel it out and see what will be best for everybody."

NNU (9-0 overall) never trailed again and eventually led by as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter.

It was quite a turnaround from an early 10-point deficit as the Golden Eagles (3-3) came out red hot, making nine of their first 12 shots and taking a 21-11 lead.

"We were just a little late on doing everything," Albrecht said. "Once we came together and got on the same page, everything was flowing a lot better."

Albrecht finished with 12 points, six rebounds and three assists. Ellie Logan and Marina Valles each added 13 points, Maya Rodgers had 11 and Jordan Pinson 10.

One of the keys for the Nighthawks in rallying was not just better defense, but also pushing the ball on offense and crashing the boards.

NNU had 19 second-chance points while the Golden Eagles had zero.

"We made some good adjustments and buckled down and started doing the stuff we practiced and prepared to do," NNU coach Steve Steele said. "It showed in the second quarter and then we held them down every quarter after the first."

The Golden Eagles shot 69.2 percent in the first quarter, then 41.7 in the second, 33.3 in the third and 30.8 in the fourth.

"We tried to run as fast we could on offense and try to find the shooters in the corners or get fouled," said Valles, who was 9-of-10 from the free throw line. "We haven't had many games yet where we didn't know what was going to happen. I think we reacted really well. We were tough. We didn't put our heads down."

NNU has won its games by an average of 26.3 points per game this season and have rarely been as challenged as they were Saturday.

In the end, though, the Nighthawks depth won out like it has all season.

"I think it was good for us," Albrecht said. "Of course we would have rather been fundamental the whole game and just felt really good about our win, but it is always good to be reminded that any team can beat us at any time. Just because the season has been going great it is not guaranteed if we don't come out every single day and give it our best shot."

NNU hosts NCAA Division III Whitworth at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18 in its final game before the holiday break.