by KIRKLAND, Wash. – The University of Puget Sound hit key baskets in overtime for a 90-83 non-conference victory over Northwest University tonight. Power was restored to the NU campus earlier in the day after a fall storm with winds gusting up to 60 mph hit the greater Kirkland area knocking out power to over 150,000 homes.
Northwest’s Jordan Asher hit a 3-point shot with 11 seconds to go to tie the game in the 4th quarter and send it into overtime, but the Loggers from Tacoma outscored the Eagles 15-8 in the extra period to earn the win.
It looked as though UPS may pull away for an easy victory in the first quarter as they hit 5 of their first 6 shots and took an 11-3 lead. But Northwest U finally found a scoring rhythm and trailed by just two at the end of the quarter, 18-16.
NU would start the second quarter on a 10-4 run to take a 26-20 lead with 6:56 to go in the half. Four straight points by freshman Emily Fiso would give NU their biggest lead at 35-25 with 3:46 on the clock. UPS would hit a jumper with 18 seconds to go in the half to make it an eight point, 41-33, Northwest Lead at the half.
Puget Sound would battle back in the third quarter, chipping away at the NU lead as the Eagles would take a slim, 57-55 lead into the start of the 4thquarter.
UPS would take a 63-59 lead in the final quarter, but an 11-3 run by Northwest would give the Eagles a 70-66 lead with 3:28 to go. UPS would not go away easily and would battle back to regain the lead, 75-72 with 16 seconds remaining. That would set up Asher’s 3-pointer from the top of the key as she would step back and hit the shot with 11 seconds to go in the game. After a time out, UPS would advance the ball, but would turn the ball over as the buzzer would sound.
Northwest would lead briefly in the overtime period, 77-75, after Asher would get to the basket for a score, but after that, it would be UPS gaining the upper hand and taking the lead for good as they would hit 63 percent of their shots in the extra period. Two free throws by Emily Sheldon would clinch the win for UPS with seven seconds showing on the clock.
Asher led Northwest U (2-4) with 21 points. Freshman Mariah Stacona (Warm Springs Tribe) scored 17 points and added 5 assists and freshman teammate Miranda Langenhorst added 12 points for the Eagles.
Puget Sound was led by Emily Sheldon’s 18 points. Alex Noren and Mikaela Limper each had 13 points for the Loggers who shot 63 percent in the overtime and out rebounded the Eagles 55 to 45 including 16 offensive rebounds.
Said Ken Crawford, NU head coach after the game, “It was a tough loss tonight against a good UPS team. These are the type of experiences that will help us grow and learn what it takes to win at this level.”
