LA JOLLA, Calif. – The only way Ellie Logan wasn't playing Friday night was if the Northwest Nazarene women's basketball team won in a blowout.

For about five minutes of the first quarter, it appeared Logan would get the night off and a chance to continue to rest her injured heel.

But when Humboldt State used a big rally to take the lead in the second quarter of their NCAA Division II national tournament first round game, head coach Steve Steele quickly summoned his star senior.

"If there is one person that is the fulcrum of our team, she is definitely it," Steele said. "Her play can make a difference at any time. She had a couple of big blocked shots and hit some big shots."

Logan finished with 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting with four rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 19 minutes as the Nighthawks won 85-75 to advance to the regional quarterfinals against Alaska Anchorage at 5 p.m. PDT on Saturday against Alaska Anchorage.

Logan's two blocks came during the game-clinching 13-2 run in the fourth quarter which she capped with a pull-up jumper.

"I was just trying to contribute and make sure that we were communicating on defense and getting back to playing our aggressive defense," Logan said.

Logan is one of the more understated players on the Nighthawks. She avoids the limelight, hates interviews and would rather let her game do the talking.

But she is also a fierce competitor, one of the best athletes on campus and is top 10 in the history of NNU women's basketball in scoring.

"Every aspect of the game is better when Ellie is on the court," NNU junior Avery Albrecht said. "I say that because of her experience, skill and the way she lifts up her teammates."

Logan has fought injuries her entire career. She has played through a fractured leg bone and a torn ligament in her elbow, and she missed all of last season with a torn ACL.

So, a bruised heel, no matter how painful, wasn't going to keep her out of the first national tournament game of her career.

"We were waiting around to see how my foot was before the game," she said. "Once I got out there and got the adrenaline going, I kind of forgot about it."

Her teammates certainly appreciated her effort to play through the pain and contribute in such meaningful ways.

"It shows how tough Ellie is and how much she cares about the outcome of this game," Albrecht said. "I don't think it is for personal reasons, but she knows how hard we all have worked for this and we really need her on the court with us if we are going to play our best basketball."