SALEM, Ore. - Rallying from a 12-point deficit in the first half, the Northwest Christian University women's basketball team took down third-seed Corban University on Tuesday night, winning the CCC quarterfinal game 60-59. It was NCU's first post-season victory since joining the NAIA in 2007. 

Trailing 34-27 at halftime, the Beacons fought back to trade leads with the Warriors ten times, getting countless clutch plays on both the offensive and defensive end. 

With 1:17 remaining, Allie Kelsey made good on one of two free throws, giving the Beacons a 55-54 lead. Corban answered on their next possession as Jade Lowery connected on the old fashioned three--point play to take back a two-point lead. This gave the Beacons the ball back with 51 seconds to play. 

NCU used every bit of the play clock on their possession and with 22 seconds remaining, senior Hannah Frederick hit one of the biggest shots of her career, draining a three-pointer from five feet beyond the arch to give the Beacons the lead.

Corban was fouled again on their next possession, fouls being a running theme throughout the night, and with 12 seconds to play Danielle Vanderstoel hit both free throws to give the home team a 59-58 advantage. 

NCU quickly crossed the timeline and called the time out, setting up their final play and with six seconds to play, Melyssa Weber took the ball on a give-and-go, drove the lane and scored the winning layup and sending the Beacons to the semifinals. Corban's mid-range jumper at the buzzer was too strong. 

"I am so proud of our girls," said first-year Head Coach Heath Alexander. "It was a complete team effort all night long. When we got down big early we held our heads high and kept fighting."

 A combined 47 fouls were called in the contest and NCU survived having three different players foul out of the game over the final eight minutes. The Beacons also shot just 27% in the contest, but 19 offensive rebounds and 23 Corban turnovers helped balance out the stat sheet. Five of those Corban fouls came on drawn charges by NCU, most underneath the basket by juniors Demarea Caples and Andrea Gloss. Gloss also had a huge block down the stretch against Corban's All-America candidate Tara Van Weerdhuizen. Alexander said, "Our girls showed alot of heart out there with their willingness to step in and take charges against some big girls that Corban has."

NCU (13-14) was led by junior Demarea Caples (pictured), scoring 19 points with eight rebounds and four steals. Frederick ended the night with ten points and six assists and Weber scored nine points. Sami Pitts made the most of her 21st birthday, scoring nine points on a trio of three-pointers. Chandler Gabrio also scored nine, adding eight rebounds off the bench. 

Corban (17-14) concludes their season despite shooting 34% with four players in double-figures. Lowery led the way with 15 points while Tara Van Weerdhuizen capped an impressive career with 13 points and 11 rebounds. 

With their first ever CCC playoff victory in the rearview mirror, NCU sets their sights on No. 1 seed Eastern Oregon University. The Beacons will travel to La Grande on Friday to take on the conference champion Mounties. No. 2 Southern Oregon and No. 5 Oregon Tech face off in Ashland in the other semifinal. 

"I told the team in the locker room that we are going to go and do this again on Friday," said Coach Alexander. "We have a win over all three teams that are left in the tournament so anything is possible."