Box Score LA JOLLA, Calif. – The Northwest Nazarene women's basketball team has played three postseason games in the last week and they have found themselves trailing in the second half in all three.

For a third consecutive game, though, the Nighthawks remained poised and pulled away late to win the program's first NCAA Division II national tournament game since 2003, defeating Humboldt State 85-75 on Friday at UC San Diego.

"It shows our toughness," NNU junior Avery Albrecht said. "It doesn't matter what the score is within the four quarter until the final buzzer ringers. No matter what the deficit, we can come out on top."

NNU (29-2) will face conference rival Alaska Anchorage at 5 p.m. PDT on Saturday in the regional semifinals. It will be the third time the teams have played in 20 days, fourth time this season and seventh time in two seasons. The teams are tied 3-3 in that span.

Friday's game seemed just like the GNAC championship game against Alaska Anchorage last Saturday, the Nighthawks came out firing on all cylinders and appeared to have an easy game in front of them.

NNU led 15-5 early, but Humboldt State took advantage of some lax defense and NNU turnovers to rally. The Lumberjacks started the second quarter on a 14-2 run to take a 29-24 lead with 6 minutes to go in the half.

"We don't scoreboard watch a whole lot," NNU coach Steve Steele said. "We talk about how the scoreboard only affects our tactics, it shouldn't affect our energy, our poise, our attitude or how we love each other.

"They did a great job of sticking to that."

The teams went back and forth into the fourth quarter before NNU's signature defense took over.

NNU led 59-58 with 8:31 left in the game when Raquel Jardine made a jumper to kick off a 13-2 run to blow the game open.

After the Jardine bucket, Ellie Logan blocked a shot which led to a Carly Parker breakaway layup for a 63-58 lead. A minute later, Maya Rodgers hit a jumper, Danielle Jardine made a free throw, Erin Jenkins hit a jumper, Jardine made two more free throws and Logan capped the run with a pullup jumper.

"We know because we are deep we can wear nearly everyone down," Steele said. "I think that is what happened tonight, we just eventually wore them down."

The victory was a marked improvement from the national tournament last season when the Nighthawks lost to Anchorage in the first round and played timid to get things started that season.

"It's way different this year," Danielle Jardine said. "Last year was our first time at the regional tournament and this year we know what to expect."

Jardine finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds, including eight offensive boards. The Nighthawks crushed the Lumberjacks on the boards, outrebounding them 46-25 including 20-6 on the offensive glass.

Albrecht scored a team-high 20 points, making 6-of-8 shots including all three of her 3-pointers in the first quarter. Logan added 10 points, four rebounds and three assists, while Raquel Jardine had 10 points and four rebounds. McKenna Walker finished with eight points and seven rebounds and Erin Jenkins had eight points, including two run-stopping 3-pointers.

"I think since it is the second go around here, we are more focused and confident in ourselves," Albrecht said. "And we think we are capable of winning every single game."

And they'll take wins, no matter if they trail in games or lead wire-to-wire.