PORTLAND, Ore. - The No.17 Northwest Christian University women's basketball team erased a 12-point deficit with six minutes remaining to beat Warner Pacific 83-82 to maintain their share of the Cascade Conference lead. Freshman
Kaylen Kamelamela hit the game-winner for the Beacons with eight seconds remaining.
After a back and forth first half, NCU entered halftime trailing 33-27 as they shot 38 percent from the field and 7-for-19 from beyond the arc. Both teams came out shooting at a much higher rate in the second half as NCU shot 10-for-18 from the field while Warner Pacific shot 10-for-19 in the third quarter. The big difference however was the Knights shooting 5-for-9 from beyond the arc which gave Warner Pacific a 67-57 edge to end the quarter.
In the fourth quarter NCU found themselves down 74-62 with six minutes remaining in which they responded with a 19-8 run to narrow the deficit to 82-8 with under a minute remaining. Then after a defensive stop,
Kaylen Kamelamela scored the game-wining basket with eight seconds remaining to give NCU the 83-82 victory. Northwest Christian shot 9-for-16 from the field and 5-for-9 from beyond the arc to outscore the Knights 26-15 in the fourth quarter.
Junior
Morgan McKinney led the way for the Beacons (21-5, 15-3 CCC) with 13 points, six assists, and six rebounds while freshman
Aspen Slifka scored 15 points. Freshman
Kaylen Kamelamela racked up 12 points and a game-high seven assists while
Shanay Dotson scored 11 points four assists, and four rebounds.
Dani Harley added 12 points off the bench on 4-for-4 shooting from beyond the arc. On the night, NCU shot 48 percent from the field and 14-for-33 from three-point range. The Beacons defense grabbed 13 steals as they forced 25 turnovers resulting in 18 points off turnovers.
Samanatha Morgan led Warner Pacific (12-14, 9-9) with a game-high 22 points, five rebounds and three assists while Gabriella Bruno scored 19 points and five rebounds. Payton Whitmore tallied 13 points on 4-for-6 shooting from beyond the arc while Courtney Jackson added 11 points and seven rebounds. Warner Pacific held the rebounding edge 39-33 with 12 offensive rebounds.
The Beacons will return home for their final homestand of the season as they take on The College of Idaho on Friday, February 21, at 5:30pm and then Eastern Oregon University for Senior Night on Saturday, February 22, at 5:30pm.
