Box Score Box Score

ASHLAND, Ore.  – The Northwest Christian University women's basketball team dropped their season opener on Friday night, as The University of Great Falls hit a three-pointer with 13 seconds remaining for a 75-72 victory in the first game of the Southern Oregon University tournament.

Head Coach Liz Turner-Bolton said, “We played very well tonight and put ourselves in a position to win late in the game. We struggled to control their two huge post players, but I'm proud of the way we ran the ball and defended tonight.”

Great Falls led 40-37 at half-time, but the teams battled through nine ties and six lead changes in the second half in a closely contested game. The Argonauts led by seven points, 56-49 with 11:27 to play when the Beacons put on a 12-0 rally, started by a Kelsey Atkins layup and finished out by a three-pointer from Mindy Smith as NCU took their biggest lead of the night, 61-56.

The Argos rallied back to take a 63-62 lead but the Beacons once again rallied to take their final lead of the night, 67-65 on a layup by Smith. Trailing 72-68 with 1:24 remaining, NCU mounted one final comeback, tying the game on back-to-back buckets from Lindsey Shearer.

After trading empty possessions in the last minute, Great Falls got the ball off a turnover with 26 seconds to play and on their final possession, Sarah Sciascia hit a three-pointer for the win.

The Beacons (0-1) were led by Shearer, finishing with 15 points and eight rebounds. Aly Bruns (pictured) had a solid all-around performance, scoring 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting, adding five assists and five steals. Jess Anderson and Smith both added eleven points for NCU. The Beacons shot 39.5% in the game and had eight three-pointers.

UGF (1-0) had a dominant night in the post from Kindra Jones scoring 23 points to go with 19 rebounds and four blocked shots. Lindsey Abramson scored 16 points and eight rebounds and Chelsea Adams threw in eleven assists. The Argos shot 47% from the field in the game.

NCU will be back in action on Saturday at 5:00 pm, facing Holy Names University to close out the SOU Tournament.