KIRKLAND – Northwest dominated in the first quarter and then withstood a late run by Multnomah for a 72-62 win Friday night.
 
The Eagles broke open a 6-6 game with a 15-2 run, fueled by eight points from Sam VanLoo, to take a 21-8 lead with 1:56 left in the first quarter. NU led 23-10 heading into the second quarter.
 
NU led 39-27 at halftime and 53-43 heading into the fourth quarter. Multnomah cut into the lead significantly, getting as close as 59-55 with 6:20 remaining, but VanLoo answered with a basket to ignite an 8-0 run to push the lead back out to 67-55. The Lions got no closer than eight points from there.
 
"Give Multnomah credit for fighting back; their coach does a good job keeping them focused," said NU Head Coach Ken Crawford. "We got off to a good start, but we had offensive and defensive lulls in some important moments of the game. We expect our veteran players to step up and lead us in this final stretch."
 
VanLoo paced the Eagles with 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Grace Meza scored 17 points, and Livi Lindsey added 13. Lindsey and Maya DuChesne had four assists each.
 
The Eagles enjoyed a 54-40 lead in rebounding but had 20 turnovers as MU collected 15 steals.
 
Alaygza Ports had 16 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Lions. Elise Graham had seven steals.
 
Now 14-10 overall and 8-9 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference, the Eagles host Warner Pacific at 3 p.m. on Saturday.