EUGENE, Ore.  – Despite suiting up just six women on Friday night, the Evergreen State College Geoducks women's basketball team walked away from the Morse Event Center victorious, topping NCU 64-52. ESC completes the season sweep of the Beacons and their fifth straight win overall in the series.
 
Evergreen got off to a quick start, racing out to a 15-2 lead behind six points apiece from Randi Boseman and LaNiecia Weatherspoon, and it eventually built a 14-point advantage at 21-7 before the Beacons launched a comeback.

Allie Kelsey (pictured) hit a pair of three-point baskets and scored eight of her 12 points in the opening half as NCU closed to within 27-25 with 55 seconds remaining. The Geoducks ended the half with seven consecutive points, however, to go to the locker room with a 34-25 advantage. Karina Gee, who missed her first five shots, knocked down a three-pointer at the buzzer to account for the nine-point lead. Gee's basket was Evergreen's lone make on seven first half attempts from beyond the three-point line.

Evergreen opened the second half scoring with a jumper, but Northwest Christian again responded by cutting its deficit to six points on several occasions. Andrea Gloss hit a jumper in the key to pull the Beacons to within 47-41 with 13:20 to play, but that was as close as they got the rest of the way. The Geoducks regained a double-digit lead about two minutes later and held that margin for all but a couple of minutes in the late going.
 
The Beacons (7-11, 3-7 CCC) were led by Melyssa Weber who posted team-highs with 16 points and seven rebounds. Kelsey had 12 and Gloss scored ten points along with another four blocks. Sami Pitts led all players with four assists in the losing effort.
 
NCU shot 37.7% from the field and was out rebounded 42-37. The Beacons had 22 turnovers in the contest. The depth advantage didn't play itself out as perhaps the Beacons would have hoped, holding just a 16-6 lead in scoring off the bench.
 
Evergreen (11-6, 5-5) was led by Weatherspoon who finished with a game-high 17 points. Sadee Jones scored 13 points and 11 rebounds along with four steals while Uriah Thomas scored 12 points. ESC shot 34% for the game and survived a 2-for-12 night from beyond the arch.
 
Northwest Christian will return to action on Saturday night, playing host to Northwest University. The Beacons are currently tied with the Eagles for eighth place in the Cascade Collegiate Conference and will be looking to avenge an 82-71 loss in Kirkland earlier this season. The opening tip is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.