KIRKLAND – Northwest came up short on a couple of late opportunities, falling to Eastern Oregon 83-79 Friday night.
 
Andie Kristinat got the Eagles off to a brilliant start, scoring nine points in the first quarter and leading NU to a 25-20 advantage. Northwest was able to take a 44-42 lead into halftime.
 
The Eagles used an 8-0 run, fueled by two baskets by Sam VanLoo, in the third quarter to build a 63-54 lead with two minutes left in the period. Northwest took a 66-58 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
Eastern Oregon put on its best defense of the night, limiting NU to 33 percent shooting and forcing six turnovers. Addyson Harris delivered the Mountaineers' first lead of the second half with a three-pointer with 1:14 left in the game and added another three moments later.
 
"This was a good, tough loss," said NU Head Coach Ken Crawford. "Good, because the players we had out there stepped up and played 40 minutes and allowed us to be in a position to make it a 40-minute game. We experienced some growth in that. Tough, because in a crucial game like that, two or three mistakes can make a difference: a turnover, a missed free throw or not blocking out on a rebound."
 
Sam VanLoo led the Eagles with 18 points and seven rebounds, followed by Livi Lindsey with 14 points to go with five assists. Maya DuChesne added 13 points, nine assists, and three steals. Kristinat had 13 points, and Caitlin Monten tossed in 12.
 
Harris had 28 points, and Taylor Stricklin added 20 for EOU. Sailor Liefke added a double-double with 16 points and 10 assists.
 
The Eagles played without eight teammates who were sidelined due to COVID-19 protocols.
 
"It was a great game but a tough loss for all of our team family that was here and for every one of our team family that was hanging on every minute of the live feed," said Crawford.
 
The Eagles, now 11-6 overall and 5-5 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference, host the College of Idaho at 3 p.m. on Saturday.