Box score, play-by-play (HTML)
 
NAMPA, Idaho – The Seattle Pacific Falcons knew Northwest Nazarene would put some points on the scoreboard.
 
The Nighthawks did – including a double-digit run that gave them permanent command on Thursday night.
 
 

Riley Evans started finding the hoop again with 16 points, but undefeated and No. 5-ranked NNU scored 15 in a row bridging the first and second quarters and rolled to an 82-64 Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against the Falcons in the Johnson Sports Center.
 
Cici West added 13 points and nine rebounds for the Falcons, who lost their second straight.
 
It was senior guard Evans who had given SPU (4-8, 3-2 GNAC) a 7-6 with a 3-pointer from the left of the lane with 4:32 remaining in the first quarter.
 
But the Falcons then went the next 5 minutes, 46 seconds without a point. Northwest Nazarene racked up its 15 straight during that time, taking a 21-7 lead by the 8:46 mark of the second quarter.
 
"There's a reason why they're the No. 5 team in the country and nobody has really been able to stay close to them," SPU head coach Mike Simonson said. "They're very efficient and they can beat you in multiple ways. That's why runs like that happen."
 
Seattle Pacific got within 12 at the outset of the third, and it was still just 13 at 44-31 near the midpoint of that quarter. Northwest Nazarene responded with a 13-4 run, extending its lead to 22 at 57-35.
 
"For three quarters, I thought we played some pretty decent offensive basketball, and we haven't been playing our best offensive basketball," Simonson said. "I love that we made some aggressive plays to the basket and made the extra pass for some wide-open looks."
 
Evans hit 5 of 12 from the floor, including 4 of 7 from behind the 3-point line.
 
"I told Riley that I thought this was going to be a good game for her to get out of her scoring rut," Simonson said. "I thought she was going to get some open looks and she did, and she buried them.

"We did some good things against them overall," he added. "All in all, we played better than we have in some other games. But we need to bounce back on Saturday."

BY THE NUMBERS
-- After the Nighthawks made their 15-0 run, the Falcons essentially played even with them, as NNU had just a 61-57 scoring edge the rest of the way.
--Thursday's game was the fourth time Cici West has come within one rebound of another double-double, She has four so far.
-- However, her nine boards put her at exactly 700 for her career.
-- After shooting just 41 percent during the first half (10 of 24), SPU shot 50 percent during the second (14 of  28) for a final mark of 46.2. That was actually a bit higher than Northwest Nazarene's 45.7, but the Nighthawks had eight more field goals on 18 more attempts, hitting 32 of 70. That included 10 of 21 from 3-point range. SPU was 6 of 17 downtown.
-- The Falcons have been taking good care of the basketball lately, but Northwest Nazarene forced them into 19 turnovers, with nine of those during the first quarter. Said Simonson, "I'm glad we got to see their pressure. That's going to help us for other games in our conference."
 
UP NEXT
The Falcons return to action on Saturday in Ellensburg against Central Washington. Tip-off in Nicholson Pavilion is at 5:15 p.m.
 
 
NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019
Johnson Sports Center / Nampa, Idaho
 
(No. 5) Northwest Nazarene 82, Seattle Pacific 64
 
SEATTLE PACIFIC (4-8, 3-2 GNAC)
Evans 5-12 2-2 16, West 6-10 1-2 13, Bennett 3-7 1-2 8, Hoff 2-4 3-6 7, Skidmore 2-5 2-2 6, Alter 2-2 0-0 4, Albert 2-5 0-0 4, Hingston 1-3 0-0 3, Rataushk 1-2 0-0 2, Berg 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 24-52 10-16 64.
 
NORTHWEST NAZARENE (13-0, 5-0 GNAC)
Pinson 5-8 2-2 15, Walker 4-7 2-2 12, Parker 4-8 0-0 10, Albrecht 4-8 0-0 9, D. Jardine 4-6 0-0 8, Rodgers 2-9 3-4 8, Logan 3-8 0-0 7, Valles 3-7 0-0 6, R. Jardine 2-7 1-2 5, Wessels 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 32-70 8-10 82.
 
Seattle Pacific                       7           16           16           25           -- 64
Northwest Nazarene         16           21           24           21           -- 82
 
3-point goals – SPU 6-17 (Evans 4-7, Bennett 1-3, Hingston 1-1, Skidmore 0-1, Albert 0-3, Berg 0-1, Hoff 0-1), NNU 10-21 (Pinson 3-4, Walker 2-4, Parker 2-6, Albrecht 1-3, Rodgers 1-2, Logan 1-2). Fouled out – None. Rebounds – SPU 29 (West 9), NNU 39 (Rodgers 6, Valles 6). Assists – SPU 10 (Albert 4), NNU 18 (Walker 4, Pinson 4), Turnovers – SPU 18, NNU 10. Total fouls – SPU 10, NNU 18. Technical fouls – None. Attendance – 621.
 
 
Next game
Seattle Pacific at Central Washington
Saturday, Jan. 12     5:15 p.m.
Nicholson Pavilion / Ellensburg, Wash.