The Seattle University women’s basketball team took the early lead, but Northwest Nazarene’s defense intensified in the second half, as the Crusaders outscored the Redhawks, 44-22, in the final 22 minutes of the game to earn the 73-62 victory Thursday night in GNAC action.
With the score 29-27, Quinn Brewe () hit a three-pointer as the shot clock ran out, starting a 11-2 SeattleU run that gave the visitors a 40-29 advantage with 1:40 remaining in the first half. Northwest Nazarene started its comeback by scoring the final seven points of the half to go into the locker room down by only four, 40-36.
After trading baskets in the first three minutes of the second half, the Crusaders took the lead for good with a 16-3 run, started by five points from Janee Olds, accelerated with seven straight points from Paige Knudson, and helped by four points from Kristin Hein. committed six of its 24 turnovers during the Crusader run.
shot 51 percent from the field and had four players score in double figures, led by Chelsie Morrison () who earned a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, plus she gathered four assists, four blocked shots, and four steals. Laina Sobczak () scored 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, while Brewe finished with 14 points on 6-of-9 field goal shooting.
Jackie Thomas (, ) scored ten points and dished out three assists, plus she picked up four steals, which enabled her to become ’s all-time steals leader, passing Marisa Young’s total of 193 thefts. Thomas now has 195 career steals and is in the top ten on the GNAC all-time steals list.
Olds made a major contribution off the bench for Northwest Nazarene (12-4, 5-2 GNAC), leading her team with 16 points. Nichole Schutte earned ten points, six rebounds, and three steals, while Hein and Knudson joined starters Brittney Roggenkamp and Jennifer Williams with seven points apiece.
(12-3, 3-3 GNAC) heads across town Saturday afternoon to face third-ranked Seattle Pacific at Royal Brougham Pavilion beginning at 1:30 p.m. The Falcons remained unbeaten with a 78-74 victory over Montana State Billings Thursday night.