ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Northwest Nazarene women's basketball battled back and forth with Central Washington all Saturday afternoon, but fell to the Wildcats in the end 71-65 to drop behind CWU in the conference standings after entering the game tied for second.
How It Happened
- CWU got out to a hot start on their home floor, taking a 16-4 lead midway through the first quarter.
- NNU quickly cut into the deficit from there, though, scoring the next eight points to make it 16-12 at the 1:47 mark.
- The Nighthawks drew even with the Wildcats early in the second quarter as Ashlyn Sylve scored to make it 21-21 at the 9:16 mark.
- NNU ended up opening the period on an 11-1 run, culminating with a Jordan Pinson triple that made it 29-23 in favor of the visitors with 7:20 to go before the half.
- The Wildcats quickly drew even again, however, and the teams traded baskets the rest of the quarter with CWU going into the break up 38-37.
- The third quarter belonged to CWU, as the home team would lead by as many as 10 before taking an eight-point advantage, 57-49, into the final period.
- NNU didn't quit, cutting the deficit down to three, 66-63, with just 1:50 to play on a Nyalam Thabach layup.
- That was as close as the Nighthawks would come, though, as CWU made free throws down the stretch to take the 71-65 victory.
Nighthawks Notes
- NNU moves to 5-3 in GNAC play and 11-5 overall, falling out of the tie for second in the conference standings with CWU and Montana State Billings, now sitting in fourth.
- NNU also falls to just 3-3 in road games this year, holding a definite home-court advantage with a 7-1 mark in the Johnson Sports Center.
- The Nighthawks were not able to hold the Wildcats under 70 points, moving to a 2-4 record on the season when opponents eclipse the 70-point mark.
- Thabach led the Nighthawks with 19 points and seven rebounds, including four on the offensive end.
- Three others scored 10 points apiece: Pinson, Sylve, and Clare Eubanks. Eubanks also had seven boards, while Pinson added three steals and three assists.
Next Up
The Nighthawks continue their road trip much farther north next week, visiting Alaska Anchorage on Thursday, Feb. 3 and Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday, Feb. 5.
