KIRKLAND, Wash.  – The Northwest Christian University women's basketball team dropped their second straight CCC game on Friday night, falling to Northwest University, 82-71. NCU was unable to hold on to a half-time lead as the Eagles came back for the victory.
 
The Beacons shot 43.9% in the game and held a 36-31 lead at halftime, fueled in large part to a 6-for-12 performance from long range during the opening 20 minutes. After an early Northwest lead, NCU tied the game at 12-12 and went on an 11-4 run to go ahead 23-16 after a Maddi Bartholomew three-pointer with 10:13 left in the half. The Beacons held on to take a 36-31 lead into the locker room.
 
NCU kept their lead for the first four minutes of the second half, but Northwest slowly chipped away at their lead and with 16:25 on the clock, tied the Beacons at 40-40 after Brianna Fiso hit two free throws (16:25). After NCU briefly took back the lead, NU went ahead for good as Kristen Frey hit a trey and the Eagles led 44-42. Northwest stretched their advantage to as many as 12 points in the half before claiming the 11-point victory.
 
Freshman Hannah Carlson scored 24 points, grabbed six rebounds and added four assists for Northwest (8-3, 2-1 CCC). Carlson was also a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line. Junior guard Jordan Asher added 17 points and nine rebounds while senior Chanara Greene added 15 points. NU hit 85% from the free-throw line and outrebounded the Beacons, 43-29, with 12 offensive rebounds.
 
Melyssa Weber led Northwest Christian (4-6, 0-2) with 17 points and three steals and teammate Demarea Caples (pictured) had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, adding a pair of blocks. Sami Pitts scored nine points while Maddi Bartholomew totaled five assists for the Beacons. NCU had just 12 turnovers in the contest while Northwest University had 13.
 
Head Coach Heath Alexander said, "I am very proud of our team. We battled for the entire game. We had a small letdown in the second half and gave up a few transition scores, but our kids buckled down and worked hard to get better. We attacked the press and took care of the ball against a very good defensive team. It was a great effort from Melyssa and Demarea tonight and Maddi stepped in and gave us some great minutes."
 
NCU will return to action on Saturday afternoon, traveling to Olympia for a clash with Evergreen at 3 p.m.