MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Nighthawks took the court Thursday night in an intense showdown against the Western Oregon Wolves. The game was a nail-biter from start to finish, with both teams battling fiercely through four quarters. In the end, the Nighthawks managed to pull ahead, securing a hard-fought 74-68 victory.
This win boosts the Nighthawks' record to 6-2 in GNAC play and 12-5 overall.
From the opening tip-off, it was clear the matchup would be closely contested. Every time the Nighthawks scored, the Wolves answered right back. The first quarter saw the teams tied three times, but a clutch three-pointer by WOU's Bella Pedrojetti gave the Wolves a narrow lead heading into the second quarter.
The second quarter brought more of the same back-and-forth action. The Nighthawks went 7-for-18 from the field, while the Wolves shot 5-for-17. Despite NNU briefly reclaiming the lead three times, WOU held a slim 33-30 advantage at halftime.
After the break, the Wolves came out strong, building a 10-point lead with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter. Momentum seemed to favor WOU, but the Nighthawks responded with a defensive surge that held the Wolves scoreless at 44 points while chipping away at their lead. A pivotal layup by Jené Wells gave the Nighthawks the edge, which they maintained as the quarter closed with a 50-49 advantage.
The fourth quarter proved decisive. With the game still neck and neck, the Nighthawks began to pull away in the final four minutes. Shooting an impressive 7-for-14 from the field and 10-for-12 from the free-throw line, NNU sealed the victory with a 74-68 finish.
Kendall Clark, returning from injury, led the Nighthawks with an outstanding performance, racking up 26 points and 9 rebounds. Jené Wells contributed 16 points and 4 assists to the win.
The Nighthawks will now head to Lacey, Washington, where they'll face Saint Martin's at the Marcus Pavilion. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m. Pacific time.
