Olympia, Wash. – Freshman center Anamaria Virjoghe tied a career-high with 27 points to lead the No. 16 NCU women's basketball team to a 74-71 victory over The Evergreen State College Geoducks on Saturday night. Heath Alexander earned his 66th career victory as head coach of the Beacons, tying Liz Turner-Bolton for the most in program history.
 
Northwest Christian (17-3, 10-3 CCC) led from start-to-finish on the night, shooting a combined .456 from the field while holding a 42-33 rebound advantage.
 
The Beacons started the game on an 8-0 run thanks to an inside jumper from Virjoghe and three's by Kaylynn Bush and Niki Duncan. NCU built their lead to as high as 15-points during the period, going into the second with a 25-11 advantage. After another strong period, Northwest Christian took an 18-point lead,42-24, into the intermission.
 
NCU carried a double-digit lead throughout the third period and into the fourth. The Geoducks mounted a comeback early in the final period when streaks of six and eight in-a-row brought them within two at 62-60 with 6:36 remaining. TESC brought the score to 69-68 with under two to go, but were unable to overtake the Beacons as their final three-point heave at the buzzer fell short.
 
Virjoghe rounded-out her stat line with six rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal in the victory. Duncan hit three treys en route to 12 points, while Katerina Brejchova scored nine points with a team-high 14 rebounds. Morgan McKinney finished with eight points, eight rebounds and a steal.
 
Four Geoducks ended in double-figures, led by Alexis Higgenbotham 22 points and nine rebounds. Deidra Miller scored 12, with Jahper McEachin and Cayla Jones each chipping-in 11.
 
NCU is back on the hardwood on Friday, February 2 with a 5:30 tip-off against Warner Pacific in the Morse Event Center.