EUGENE, Ore. – Playing in their pink uniforms for the first time, the Northwest Christian University women's basketball team took care of business on Friday evening, topping The Evergreen State College 67-42 in the Morse Event Center. NCU jumped out to a 25-7 lead after the first quarter and never looked back.
 
The Beacons (16-8, 11-4 CCC) shot 48% from three-point range as they held on to two-game lead for fourth place in the Cascade Collegiate Conference standings with five games remaining. The top four teams in the final standings earn the right to host a first-round game in the CCC tournament, which would be a first for NCU.
 
NCU had another strong performance on the defensive end holding the Geoducks (3-18, 3-13) to just 29% shooting in the game. The Beacons out-rebounded Evergreen 39-38 and outscored the visitors 24-8 off the bench.
 
Northwest Christian had four players in double-figures led by Sami Pitts with 14. Pitts was 3-for-6 from three-point range and had scored her first ten points within the first six minutes of the game. Hanna Mack added 12 points and seven rebounds while Niki Duncan was 3-for-5 from outside, scoring 11. Chandler Gabrio came off the bench to score 10 points, adding two blocks.
 
Head Coach Heath Alexander said, "We were really focused defensively tonight and everyone that got on the floor down the stretch continued to play as a strong unit, sharing the ball. 15 assists on 24 made baskets is big for us."
 
Evergreen was led by Uriah Thomas with 14 points. Gabi Fenumiai scored ten while Autumn Moorcroft led all players with eight rebounds.
 
The Beacons will turn around on Saturday night to play host to Northwest University (11-15, 6-10) at 5:30 p.m.