KIRKLAND – Northwest won for a school-record fifth time in six games to start the season, chopping down Evergreen State 66-54 Tuesday night.
 
It was the Cascade Collegiate Conference opener for both teams.
 
Sam VanLoo led the Eagles with 16 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Caitlin Monten came off the bench for 12 points and eight rebounds, and Livi Lindsey added 11 points.
 
Monten did most of her damage in the fourth quarter after ESC had pulled to within five points. Monten went on a personal 10-5 run to bulk the lead back to 62-52 with 5:05 remaining.
 
The Northwest defense took over from there, picking up three steals and limiting the Geoducks to three field goal attempts in the final five minutes.
 
"Evergreen State is always a tough game for us," said NU Head Coach Ken Crawford. "They are physical and well-coached, and that makes this win even more special for us. We made some adjustments with Morgan Marshall being thrust into the starting lineup, and Caitlin Monten played very well in the fourth quarter. We also got a lot of good, consistent effort from a lot of players."
 
The Eagles led by as many as 10 points in the first quarter and had a 39-27 lead at the half. NU's lead peaked at 14 points at two points in the third quarter, both on baskets by Marshall.
 
Trinity Betoney led ESC with 20 points. 
 
NU takes the rest of the holiday week off and heads to Lewis-Clark State for a 5:30 p.m. contest on Dec. 3.