by PORTLAND, Ore. – Northwest University used two big quarters to pull away for a 79-55 Cascade Conference victory over Multnomah tonight.
The Eagles took charge in the second quarter to outscore Multnomah 29-17 to overcome a 14-11 first quarter deficit. Leading 50-46 after the third quarter, NU put together a 25-13 period to earn their second league win and improve to 2-1 in CCC play.
Senior Brianna Fiso led NU with 15 points while sophomore guard, Charmaine Bradford scored 10 points and handed out 4 assists. While the Eagles managed only 37 percent shooting for the game, they held a big advantage in rebounding with a 50-39 edge including 26 key offensive rebounds led by Kristen Frey‘s 5 boards.
Multnomah took an early 6-5 lead in the first period and held onto the narrow lead the entire quarter as Valerie Wakefield’s lay-in with 16 seconds to go would give the Lions a 14-11 lead.
The Eagles would heat up in the second period and go on an 11-2 run to start the quarter with Hannah Carlson scoring 8 of the 11 points. MU would keep the game close pulling to within two points twice, but Northwest U would answer each time. Leading 32-30 with 2:08 to go in the half, the Eagles would outscore the Lions 8-0 capped off by two Paige Burson free throws with 39 seconds showing on the clock. MU would hit a single free throw to end the scoring, giving NU a 40-31 lead at halftime.
The Eagles would hold onto the lead in the third period as the Lions would stay closes matching NU’s baskets with scores of their own as the quarter would end with Northwest U holding on to a slim, 50-46, lead.
In the fourth quarter, MU would make it a 3 point game, 52-49, after Lexie Govert’s 3-pointer (9:11), but the Eagles would then catch fire with an 11-2 run, forcing two Lion turnovers as Charmaine Bradford would grab a rebound and go coast-to-coast for a lay-in with 6:18 left in the game. Brianna Fiso‘s free throw with 3:38 remaining would stretch the NU lead to 15, 69-54, as the Eagles would close out the game for the victory.
In addition to Fiso’s 15 and Bradford’s 10 points, Northwest U (5-6, 2-1 CCC) got 9 points from Hannah Carlson, Mariah Stacona (Warm Springs Tribe) and Miranda Langenhorst. Stacona added a team high 5 assists. NU had 12 steals as a team.
Multnomah (2-8, 0-3 CCC) was led by Lexie Govert’s 18 points with Miranda Schmillen dropping in 12 points. Lacie Kamper had a game high 13 rebounds for the Lions who shot 35 percent for the game, but managed only 14 percent shooting from the 3-point line (3-22).
Northwest U returns to Kirkland and will play Pacific Lutheran in a non-league game next Friday, December 11 in Kirkland at 7 p.m.
