Box Score ELLENSBURG, Wash. – No one knew what to expect from the Northwest Nazarene women's basketball team's season opener Friday.

The Nighthawks graduated seven players and lost two more to injuries. So, with two freshmen in the starting lineup and three more coming off the bench anything was in play against a heavily experienced Hawaii Pacific team.

NNU battled HPU to a standstill until Starr Rivera hit a 3-pointer as time expired to give the Sharks an 83-80 victory at the GNAC-CCAA Crossover tournament at Central Washington.

"I don't think anybody would have thought we could play them this tight if you are looking at Vegas odds," NNU coach Steve Steele said. "I'm proud of them for coming back. If we clean up a couple of things, we win that game."

The Nighthawks (0-1 overall) gave up two crucial offensive rebounds in the final 20 seconds, which eventually led to the game-winning 3-pointer. They also missed eight free throws.

"In a close game, those are the things you have to take care of," Steele said. "(HPU) made really big plays in really big moments. That kid who hit that shot – I love that kid. She has been clutch since I started following her in high school. That didn't surprise me at all."

Avery Albrecht's 21 points, eight rebounds and three steals led the Nighthawks, while Marina Valles added 15 points, eight assists, four steals and four rebounds. Freshman Clare Eubanks had 12 points and six rebounds in her first career start and Erin Jenkins added 10 points and four rebounds.

NNU trailed by as many as 12 in the second quarter, but pulled within 41-36 at half after a 10-3 run.

The Sharks (1-0) used a 10-2 run in the fourth to take a 76-68 lead with 3 minutes, 20 seconds left in the game, but then the Nighthawks caught fire.

Coming out of a timeout, Jordan Pinson drilled a 3-pointer. After the Sharks scored at the other end, Albrecht came down and hit a 3-pointer to make it 78-74. Freshman Haley Hanson then hit her first career basket, a corner 3-pointer to make it 78-77.

Hawaii went back up 80-77 and Jenkins made a layup to pull within one. The Nighthawks then had the ball and a chance for the lead, but Valles split a pair of free throws to tie the game at 80-80 with 46 seconds remaining.

That set up the pair of offensive rebounds that extended the possession for the Sharks.

"If we come up with one of those rebounds I think they are in trouble," Steele said. "We were scoring at a really high clip in the fourth quarter."

The Nighthawks play against Stanislaus State at 3 p.m. MST on Saturday.