The Northwest University women’s basketball team held off a late fourth quarter comeback attempt by Evergreen to defeat the Geoducks, 67-61, to open Cascade Collegiate Conference play on Tuesday.

“It was a good win against a very competitive Evergreen State team,” said Eagles head coach Ken Crawford. “Just an indication on how tough Cascade Conference games really are.  It was a great start to the league season for us.”

Trailing 53-43 with 10 minutes to go in the game, Evergreen would slowly chip away at the Northwest Unuveristy lead going on an 11-2 run to make it a 55-54 game with 2:46 left on the clock.

NU’s Brianna Fiso would then score two straight baskets to give the Eagles a 61-56 lead at the 1:07 mark. After an ESC score and timeout, NU’s Katie Rozumny would check into the game and hit a big, three-point shot for NU with 36 seconds remaining to make it 64-58. Autumn Moorcroft’s trey would cut NU’s lead back to three, 64-61 with 22 seconds showing on the clock, but Northwest would hit three of four free throws in the final 14 seconds to hold on for the win.

The Eagles would lead 39-29 at the half after leading by as much as fourteen in the second quarter and with 6:20 left in the third quarter, Miranda Langenhorst’s short jumper would again put the Eagles up by 14, 45-31, before the Geoducks would mount their comeback in the fourth period.

Northwest U (4-5, 1-0 CCC) was led by Fiso’s 17 points followed by 13 points each by Mariah Stacona and Jordan Asher. Asher added seven assists to lead the team. Freshman post Miranda Langenhorst led the Eagles with 10 rebounds, but Evergreen held a sizable 47-32 advantage in rebounding. NU shot 43 percent for the game and only 47 percent from the free throw line (7-15).

The Evergreen State College (0-3, 0-1 CCC) had three players in double figures with Gabi Fenumiai leading the way with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Jonellle Staveland scored 17 points and teammate Autumn Moorcroft scored 16 for the Geoducks. Lacey Morris had a game high 9 assists.