Box Score OLYMPIA, Wash. – Playing their third road game in five days, the Northwest University women fell to Evergreen 71-63, in Cascade Conference play tonight.

Evergreen got 18 points apiece from Brittany Gray and Sadee Jones with Jones adding 11 rebounds for the double-double.

The two teams battled in the early going of the first half with four ties in the first seven minutes of the game. On the fifth tie of the game with 8:10 showing on the clock, and the score knotted at 15-15, Evergreen would go on a 7-2 run capped off by Natasha Trinidad's 3-pointer, to put the Geoducks up 22-17 with 5:11 left until halftime. Charity Degman would hit two jumpers to cut Evergreen's lead to one on two occasions, but the Geoducks would score the final seven points of the half to take a 31-23 lead at the break.

Evergreen would take double digit leads four times in the second half, but each time the Eagles would battle back to cut into the Geoducks' lead.  Two ESC free throws would give the Geoducks an 11 point lead, 58-47, with 6:08 left in the game, but the Eagles would not go away easily and would slowly chip away at the lead. Jordan Asher would steal the ball with 1:44 remaining and drill a trey to cut the ESC lead to just two, 63-61. Following a timeout, NU would miss an opportunity to tie the score and Evergreen would sink two free throws to increase their lead to four, 65-61, with just 56 seconds remaining. Two costly turnovers by NU and a missed shot coupled with ESC hitting 6 of 6 free throws would stretch the Geoduck lead to 10 points with 20 seconds left in the contest. Charity Degman would hit a jumper for the final score of the game as Evergreen would post the CCC victory.

Northwest U (9-6, 2-3 CCC) had four players score in double figures led by Jordan Asher's 19 points and 60% shooting from the 3-point line (6 for 10). Freshman guard Charmaine Bradford and junior Charity Degman each scored 13 points. Hannah Carlson had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. NU shot 46 percent for the game and 46 percent from the 3-point line.

In addition to Gray and Jones' 18 points, Evergreen (8-4, 2-3 CCC) got 12 points from LaNieci Weatherspoon with Randi Boseman and Karina Gee both scoring 9 points for the Geoducks. ESC out rebounded Northwest U 36-26 and shot 48 percent for the game, 50 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.

"Our young team is gaining experience as we've had to learn how to adjust to life on the road this week," said NU Coach, Ken Crawford. "It'll only help us grow as a team and we'll be better prepared next weekend as we travel once again for conference games. I'm happy with the way the ladies are maturing as players as they learn with each experience."

Northwest U will be back on the road again next weekend as they travel to Oregon Tech and Southern Oregon for more Cascade Conference play.