EUGENE, Ore.  – The Northwest Christian University women's basketball team opened Cascade Collegiate Conference action on Friday night, falling to rival Corban University, 75-43 in the Morse Event Center. The Beacons shot 26.6% from the floor and hit just three of 21 three-point attempts.
 
It was the Beacons, however, who would jump ahead early on, storming out to a 9-2 lead in the first two minutes. Chander Gabrio got things going with a jumper and a three-pointer and Breanna Schmidt added four points. Corban soon regained their composure, rattling off 21-2 run to claim a 23-11 lead with 5:03 remaining in the half.
 
NCU got it back to within six points with seven straight, but the Warriors ended the period on a 9-0 run, capped off by five points from Haley Holboke in the final 45 seconds to give Corban a 32-17 advantage at the intermission.
 
The second half saw the Beacons again claw their way back to single digits, trailing 43-35 with 10:26 to play. Unfortunately the home team would go the next nine minutes without a field goal. Corban scored 22 unanswered points and completed a 28-1 run before A Maddi Bartholomew jumper ended the drought with 1:30 remaining.
 
Corban (5-5, 1-0 CCC) was led by Tara Van Weerdhuizen who registered a double with 11 points, 15 rebounds, and six blocks. Julie Young also scored 11 and Jade Lowery finished with ten points and four assists. Payton Wilcox scored nine points and led the Warriors with four steals. Corban collected 15 steals in the game and forced 22 NCU turnovers. Corban also won the rebounding battle, 61-40.
 
Northwest Christian (4-4, 0-1) was led in the loss by Melyssa Weber (pictured), scoring nine points off the bench despite shooting just 4-for-16 from the field. Allie Kelsey scored six points and three assists while Andrea Gloss scoredfour points with four rebounds, three steals and two blocks. MeShel Rad ended the night without a point, but led the Beacons with nine rebounds including four on the offensive glass.
 
The Beacons will return to action next Saturday, traveling to face Linfield College at 6 p.m.