CALDWELL, Idaho – Northwest used a key fourth-quarter rally to take an important Cascade Collegiate Conference road win at the College of Idaho on Friday, 66-64.
 
The Eagles can wrap up a postseason berth with a win in any of their remaining three games.
 
A close game throughout, the Eagles found themselves down four points with 8:50 to go. Northwest tied the game with 4:40 left on a free throw by Grace Meza and took a 56-54 lead a minute later after a pair of defensive stops and a jumper by Sam VanLoo.
 
A putback by VanLoo and a layup by Maya DuChesne handed the Eagles a 60-56 lead with 1:56 remaining. The Yotes got within two points three times after that, but NU had the answer each time, including baskets by VanLoo and Livi Lindsey.
 
CI got off a potential game-tying shot with a second left but missed, and Lindsey corralled the rebound to clinch the win.
 
"One of the things that you hope your team will do will be to continue to learn all season," said NU Head Coach Ken Crawford. "I thought that we learned some good things tonight and persevered all the way to the end. A great game in a tough playing environment tonight. Now it's on to Eastern Oregon."
 
VanLoo led the Eagles with 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Meza tossed in 16 points. VanLoo also blocked five shots, and Lindsey picked up three steals.
 
NU, now 15-11 overall and 9-10 in the CCC, plays at Eastern Oregon at 3 p.m. on Saturday.