KIRKLAND – Northwest got an early challenge and answered for a 73-58 win over Walla Walla on Friday.
 
The Wolves scored the first five points and played evenly with NU for five minutes in the first quarter. Grace Meza hit a three-pointer to ignite a 7-0 run to close the first quarter and give the Eagles a 19-11 lead.
 
NU led by as many as 13 points in the second quarter and took a 37-30 edge into the lockers at halftime.
 
Walla Walla made it a three-point game at the 6:26 mark of the third quarter but could get no closer. Sam VanLoo scored with 15 seconds left in the game for the final and largest margin for NU.
 
"You have to give Walla Walla credit. They worked well and pushed us in every aspect of the game," said NU Head Coach Ken Crawford. "I'm really proud of the way we responded. I knew once we strung a couple of stops and a couple of baskets together, we would be okay, and that's what happened."
 
Meza and VanLoo had double-doubles, with Meza getting 20 points and 10 rebounds and VanLoo 15 points and 16 rebounds. Livi Lindsey added 14 points. 
 
The Eagles had 53 rebounds, including 25 offensive rebounds.
 
Meza and Shelaine Lorenz had four assists each, and Meza added four steals.
 
Jaliyah Casem had 20 points for the Wolves.
 
Northwest improves to 12-7 on the season and 6-6 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference heading into Saturday's game at home against Lewis-Clark State. Tipoff on Saturday is 3 p.m.