The women’s basketball team held the lead for most of the game, but Northwest Nazarene went on a 10-0 run late in the second half to pull out a 69-61 victory Saturday night in GNAC action at the .
A layup by Jackie Thomas (, ) with 4:47 remaining in the second half gave a 55-51 lead. After Northwest Nazarene tied the game on baskets by Jennifer Williams and Nichole Schutte, Laina Sobczak () made a jumper with 3:31 left to put SeattleU back in front, 57-55.
Williams made two free throws to tie the game, 57-57, and then Schutte blocked a Redhawk three-point attempt, drove the ball the length of the court, made the layup while being fouled, and completed the three-point play to give the Crusaders the lead for good. Williams made another layup, and Krista Oliver hit a three-pointer with 1:24 remaining to give Northwest Nazarene an eight-point lead.
Thomas led with 16 points and five steals, shooting 6-of-8 from the field and 4-of-6 from the free throw line. Sobczak hit 5-of-7 from the field on her way to a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Chelsie Morrison (, ) earned seven points and two steals and Quinn Brewe () contributed six points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Northwest Nazarene (17-7, 10-5 GNAC) was led by Williams’ 25 points, plus she had seven rebounds and three steals. Schutte finished with 12 points, six rebounds, and two blocked shots, while Lindsay Brady earned ten points, three rebounds, and three steals, and Kristin Hein added six points, nine rebounds, two steals, and two blocked shots to the Crusaders’ winning effort.
shot 44 percent (22-of-50) from the field, but the team shot only 11-of-18 (61.1%) from the free throw line and committed 30 turnovers. The Redhawk turnovers plus 17 offensive rebounds by Northwest Nazarene allowed the Crusaders to take 15 more field goal attempts. The visitors also were solid at the free throw line, hitting 19-of-24 (79.2%) attempts from the charity stripe.
(14-9, 5-9 GNAC) hits the road next weekend, first traveling to face Thursday, Feb. 28, in a 7 p.m. contest. The Redhawks will finish the regular season at home the following weekend, hosting the schools on March 6 and 8 at the .