The Basics

• Final score: Western Oregon 78, Northwest Nazarene 75
• Records: Western Oregon 7-10, 3-7 GNAC; Central Washington 7-9, 5-5 GNAC
• Western Oregon snaps two-game skid against NNU and three-game stretch overall.
• Location: Nampa, Idaho – Johnson Sports Center

How It Happened
The Western Oregon women's basketball team rallied back from a 14-point deficit early in the fourth quarter and defeated Northwest Nazarene on Saturday afternoon in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference matchup at the Johnson Sports Center.
 
The Wolves took the lead with 1:44 remaining on a jumper by Ali Nelke and hit their final three shots from the floor while Kennedy Corrigan ripped the nets with two clutch free throws with seven seconds on the clock to help the team snap a three-game losing streak. A potential tying 3-pointer from NNU's Lexi Tubbs missed short.
 
For the second straight game on the trip, WOU got off to a slow start and trailed by 10 late in the first quarter before a jumper from Savannah Heugly put the Crusaders ahead, 25-17. Western scored the opening six points of the second quarter on jump shots from Sydney Azorr, Launia Davis and Heugly. The two sides would play even until NNU held the Wolves scoreless over a four-minute span in a 7-0 rally. A 3-pointer from Corrigan and two charity shots from Leah Nicklason trimmed the Northwest Nazarene lead to 39-34 heading into the intermission.
 
After a pair of jumper from Shelby Snook kept the Wolves within striking distance, NNU went on a 10-0 run over three minutes before a Heugly jumper began a 6-0 response ended on a Corrigan triple. NNU held Western Oregon scoreless over the final 2:22 of the third quarter to take a 61-49 lead into the final frame.
 
Two NNU free throws built the largest lead at 63-49 before the Western Oregon defense clamped down, holding the hosts to two points over the next 3:30. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Azorr sparked an individual 8-0 run and Jasmine Miller connected on consecutive buckets cutting the NNU lead to four, 65-61.
 
A Tubbs make bumped NNU's lead up to seven, but WOU went on an 8-0 rally that continued the comeback effort. Snook's open triple was followed by a Miller make and two Azorr free throws made it a one-point game on the possession preceding Nelke's jumper.
 
Wolves' Top Performers

• Sydney Azorr's double-double came with team highs in 17 points and 10 rebounds. She was 3-of-3 from the floor and 2-of-2 on 3-pointers scoring 12 points in the fourth quarter.
• Kennedy Corrigan scored 14 points adding three rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench.
• Savannah Heugly finished with 12 points, five assists and four rebounds.
• Jasmine Miller had 10 points and three boards in 25 minutes.
• Shelby Snook had a full house with seven points, five assists and four rebounds.

 
For the Crusaders

• Ellie Logan led all scorers with 18 points adding seven rebounds.
• Lexi Tubbs followed with 17 points on 8-of-18 shooting.
• Danielle Jardine had 10 rebounds, including five on the offensive end, in 12 minutes.

 
Stats of the Game

• The Wolves had seven makes from behind the 3-point arc (7-of-18, 38.9 percent) while holding the Crusaders to 3-of-14 (21.4 percent).
• Western Oregon led for only 1:31 overall.
• WOU was able to force 15 turnovers and scored 15 points on the NNU giveaways.
• NNU won a close battle on the boards, 39-38, with a 19-11 advantage on the offensive glass.

 
Coach Quotes
WOU head coach Holli Howard-Carpenter after the win:

• "I am so proud of our focus from start to finish. They really deserved this win and it will definitely make for a better bus ride home."
• "The great part was that everyone had their moments and contributed. Savannah got us going early with her scoring but also got her teammates involved with her great passes.  Kennedy was absolutely tough as nails off the bench for us, knocking down those free throws at the end were HUGE.  Jas and Ali's offensive boards gave us a few extra opportunities and we were able to convert on them. Sydney's back to back three's started our turnaround and everyone jumped on board." 
• "We came up with some key stops in the 4th and finally started boxing out which allowed us to erase a 14 point deficit. To hold that team to 14 in a quarter is a pretty tall order but I love the fact we followed it up with a 29 point quarter of our own."

 
Up Next
After being on the road for two straight weekends, Western Oregon returns to The 109 at New P.E. from two games beginning Thursday, Jan. 28 against Western Washington. The tip is scheduled at 7 p.m. on Staff & Faculty Appreciation Night.