SALT LAKE CITY – The Cougars nearly pulled off a nationally ranked win but came up just short.
Despite a pair of 21-point efforts, the Colorado Christian women's basketball squad fell victim to a Northwest Nazarene rally as the Nighthawks posted an 80-75 victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED: The tone of the tightly played game was set in the first quarter. The Cougars led for a majority of the frame. However, the largest lead they held was five points. Similarly, in the second quarter the Cougars never trailed in the second 10 minutes as they held a lead as large as six points before taking a 36-34 lead into the locker room.
The 24th ranked Nighthawks looked to be trouble as the Cougars continued to maintain their lead as the third quarter unfolded. Colorado Christian held a pair of eight point leads then settled for a 59-52 edge heading into the last 10 minutes of action.
Northwest Nazarene, an NCAA postseason qualifier last season, stayed within striking distance and took their first lead since the opening quarter with 3:44 left in the game. Jordan Pinson hit a shot from behind the arc which gave them a 72-71 lead. It was a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Unfortunately for the Cougars they went cold offensively in the closing minutes as they hit one field goal after the Nighthawks took the lead. There was a two-plus minute stretch were neither team made a field goal. Northwest Narazene broke the stretch and grabbed momentum with lay-ups by Marina Valles and Ellie Logan on back-to-back possession. Those lay-ins gave them a 77-71 lead with 40 seconds left.
Colorado Christian couldn't get their deficit down to one possession as the Nighthawks did just enough for the win.
COUGAR LEADERS: The scoring duo of Sarah McGinley and Jordan Baer each scored a team high 21 points. Baer made a team best nine field goals while McGinley hit four of her nine attempts from behind the arc. Moreover they grabbed 15 combined rebounds (McGinley – 7, Baer – 8).
Olivia Christy scored 11 points in 28 minutes to round out the double figure scorers.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- There were only four lead changes in the contest
- The Nighthawks post players were critical in win as they held a 26-16 edge in paint points
- Northwest Nazarene held a 12-point edge in fourth quarter scoring (28-16)
UP NEXT: The contest was the first of two games in less than 24 hour period for the Cougars. On Saturday Colorado Christian tips off against Texas A&M International at 3 p.m. at Westminster College.
