KIRKLAND – Northwest responded to Friday's season-opening loss with a 65-59 win at home against Pacific Lutheran.
 
Grace Harder led the Eagles with 16 points, with Maya DuChesne adding nine. Katie Fleming, Maria Arroyo Sanchez, and Kylie Lunday had eight apiece.
 
"It was good to see the team bounce back from that first game," said NU Head Coach Ken Crawford. "That's something you look for in a team—how they respond after a tough loss. We responded pretty well. We're still making mistakes in some key areas, but we're making progress."
 
After PLU took a 17-14 lead into the second quarter, the Eagles overtook their guests at the 6:44 mark on a three-pointer by Fleming for a 23-21 lead. NU kept a slim lead the rest of the quarter and led 30-27 at the half.
 
The Northwest lead peaked at eight in the third quarter on a free throw by Kyrin Baklund for a 41-33 lead with 6:24 left. NU took a 52-47 edge into the final frame.
 
PLU battled back, and a three-point play by Sydney Reisner narrowed NU's lead to 61-59 with 1:10 to go. The Lutes got a steal but couldn't convert on their final two possessions as Kinslee Gallatin and Lunday came up with big late rebounds. 
 
NU was sent to the free-throw line, with DuChesne and Baklund getting all four of their crunch-time free throws to expand the lead.
 
The win evens the Eagles' record at 1-1. NU hosts another classic next weekend, taking on Whitworth at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Providence at 5 p.m. on Saturday.