BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Northwest Nazarene women's basketball team is an up tempo, full-court pressing basketball team.

On Friday during the GNAC tournament semifinals, the Nighthawks showed their diversity by beating Western Washington at its own game.

The Nighthawks defeated the host Vikings 83-78 to advance to the championship game Saturday night.

NNU had as many offensive rebounds as the Vikings did in the game and the Nighthawks outscored them 52-22 in the paint. The Vikings entered the game as the top rebounding team in the GNAC.

"We preached rebounding all week and going in you know they are going to start two really big posts," NNU's Ellie Logan said. "We came in with a different attitude, preaching down low and we were really intentional about that. I think the (Jardine) twins kept us in the game in the first half with their offensive rebounds and giving us the second chance points."

NNU (27-2) plays Alaska Anchorage at 6:20 p.m. MST in the championship game. The game will be streamed live on ESPN3.

Raquel Jardine scored 13 first-half points, while Danielle Jardine had 12 second-half points.

"Coach has been getting on us the past couple of practices that we need to focus on rebounds and boxing out," Danielle Jardine said. "We tired them out in the second half and we knew what they were doing, so we were able to find those open areas and kick it out to shooters. It worked out in the end."

One of the biggest shots of the game showed off NNU's depth.

With the shot clock winding down and NNU leading 77-72 with less than a minute to go, Avery Albrecht drove baseline and shot an air ball. Carly Parker was crashing from the weak side, grabbed the rebound and put it in to all but seal the game.

"Our whole team is about team play," Danielle Jardine said. "It doesn't matter if the posts are having a good night or if the guards are having a good night, everybody contributes in a different way."

As head coach Steve Steele said in the locker room after the game, a player might shine for 5 minutes, 90 seconds or even just cheering from the bench. Everyone is truly important.

Western Washington controlled the game in the first half, leading by as many as eight at one point. A 14-4 run capped by an Albrecht 3-pointer, her first points of the game, gave NNU a 42-41 lead with 53 seconds left in the first half.

At halftime, Steele preached aggressiveness and the need to play harder and the Nighthawks came out and did just that.

"I think we were more aggressive just because we had a sense of urgency," Albrecht said. "It was a really close game and we didn't want to leave here with any regrets."

With the game tied at 48-48 in the third quarter, Danielle Jardine went on a personal 8-0 run thanks to some fantastic interior passing and fancy dribbling by Marina Valles and Ellie Logan.

The Nighthawks eventually led by 14 in the fourth quarter, but Western went on an 8-0 run to make it a touch and go game down the stretch.

In the end, though, NNU was too deep and talented on this day.

"We have high expectations for ourselves and any time we can live into those, it's a little bit of a relief," Logan said. "We are looking forward to next game. It's going to be fun."

Albrecht scored a game-high 18 points, while Danielle Jardine had 14 and eight rebounds. Logan had 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

Now, the Nighthawks have a shot at Alaska Anchorage. The two teams have played five times the last two seasons with the Seawolves winning three, including just 10 days ago.

"The last two years, we've left with a loss and that sick feeling in our stomach," Albrecht said. "It feels good to know that we will go to bed tonight with a shot at a championship tomorrow."