KIRKLAND, Wash. – The Bushnell University women's basketball team held off host Northwest University, 66-60, to come away with a Cascade Collegiate Conference victory on New Year's Eve.

Bushnell (9-3, 6-1 CCC) remains in a tie for second in the CCC standings with No. 23 Southern Oregon and No. 20 Eastern Oregon. Northwest drops to 3-9 overall and 1-6 in conference play.

The Beacons used an 8-2 run to take a 30-25 lead early in the second quarter. A 5-0 Eagle run in the final 30 seconds of the half finished off by a near half-court buzzer beater narrowed the Bushnell advantage to 35-34 at the break.

Bushnell opened a 47-36 lead midway through the third after an Aspen Slifka block followed by a Haley Hanson three-pointer concluded a 10-0 Beacon run. The Beacons held Northwest to 10 points in the period with six coming in the final 2:06, bringing the score to 53-44 entering the final quarter.

The Beacons extended their lead to 60-44 after another Hanson three with under six minutes on the clock.

The Eagles got back within five after an 11-0 run brought the score to 60-55 with two minutes remaining.  A jumper by Maria Arroyo Sanchez cut the Eagle deficit to 62-59 with 32 seconds to go but Slifka made two free throws to bring the Beacon lead back to five. The Eagles were sent to the free throw line and grabbed a pair of offensive boards following the missed second attempt, but were unable to convert. Slifka made another pair of free throws to seal the game at 66-60.

Bushnell shot 43.9% from the field, making 4-of-15 from beyond the arc, and went 12-of-18 from the free throw line. Slifka led the Beacons with 16 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Bella Pedrojetti finished with 15 points and five rebounds, while Aly Mirabile added a season-high 11 points.

Hanson, who set her previous career-high on Friday, set a new personal best with 10 points on the game. Kalina Rojas posted a game-high nine rebounds and Libby Mathis added eight.

Northwest was held to 30.6% (22-72) from the floor, including 4-of-23 from three. The Eagles turned the ball over just 10 times and scored 17 points off of 23 Beacon turnovers. Maya DuChesne led Northwest with a game-high 20 points. Kylie Lunday finished with 11 points and six rebounds off the bench.

Up next, Bushnell takes on No. 23 Southern Oregon (Jan. 6) and Oregon Tech (Jan. 7) on the road.