NCU Women Team of the Week After Upset
LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Northwest Christian University women’s basketball team, which won for the first time in program history over a top-10 ranked opponent Saturday against No. 8 Eastern Oregon, has been named the “Verizon Team of the Week” in the Cascade Collegiate Conference, the conference office announced Sunday.
“It is great for our team to be recognized given our struggles this year,” NCU head coach Liz Turner-Bolton said. “It is testimony to the underdog who continues to work hard and believe in success. Given how well some teams are playing right now, it is indeed an honor.”
The Beacons (10-16, 2-12 Cascade Collegiate Conference) split the weekend schedule at home in the Morse Events Center. NCU hosted a pair of teams that appeared in the latest NAIA Div. 2 Top 25 poll. Northwest Christian stayed with The College of Idaho before falling 68-53 Friday, but then upset the nation’s eighth-ranked team, EOU, Saturday in overtime, 74-64.
Northwest Christian trailed by as many as 15 points in the second half in the win over Eastern. The Mountaineers held NCU to just one field goal in the first 10 minutes of play, and had a 29-17 halftime advantage. Trailing 43-33 with 12:59 remaining in regulation, the Beacons went on an 18-4 run to lead 51-47 with 6:31 left in the second half. EOU would regain the lead with 1:23 left in regulation after a three-pointer, 59-58. A pair of Eastern Oregon free-throws gave the Mountaineers a 61-58 lead with seven seconds remaining in the half.
The Beacons’ Lindsey Shearer, who was held to nine points up to that point of the game, would then hit a three-pointer as time expired in regulation to send the game to overtime.
“As a coach, you prepare for end game situations like that with multiple options,” Turner-Bolton said. “The goal was to find Jess or Lindsey in space off of a screen. Coming out of that timeout, we knew Lindsey was going to make something happen.”
In the extra period, Shearer made all of NCU’s field goals, as Northwest Christian outscored one of the country’s best offenses, 13-3. The Beacons’ defense held EOU to just 1-of-4 shooting from the field in overtime. Shearer finished with a game-high 22 points along with nine rebounds. The junior was 3-of-9 from the field until she made her final five shots of the game, including the three-pointer.
“I was as impressed with Lindsey's poise, patience and confidence in the overtime period as I was with her shot to end regulation,” Turner-Bolton said. “Her enthusiasm was infectious and she rallied our team with her will to win. She is an undersized forward playing largely out of her natural position. It is rare to find a player that leads a team in points, rebounds and assists.”
The Beacons got at least 36 minutes from all of their starters with all five players scoring in double-digits. Martha Taylor scored 16 points and 10 rebounds for the double-double, adding three assists and three steals. Aly Bruns and Katie Collins each added 12 points and Jess Anderson had 11 points and seven rebounds.
After shooting just 21.7 percent in the first half, the Beacons were 50 percent over the second half and overtime. Northwest Christian out-rebounded the Mountaineers 42-31 and forced 20 EOU turnovers.
Friday, NCU got out to an early lead over The College of Idaho, and tied the game early in the second half, but fell to the Yotes. Shearer had 15 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Anderson added 14 points and four assists.
“We are a very young team that is still developing,” Turner-Bolton said. “We are a scrappy group that loves to compete. I think we have had several games where we play a solid 30-34 minutes but were unable to come away with a win. In the Cascade Conference, it takes a very tough 40 minutes of play to win.
“This group comes in ready each day to practice hard, watch film, set goals and prepare for our next opponent despite our conference setbacks. They are just a wonderful group to coach. I admire their determination, perseverance and ability to focus on the areas of our game that we can control. A little momentum is a nice thing to have down the stretch.”
The Beacons travel to Warner Pacific College and Concordia University Friday and Saturday for their next games. Northwest Christian has four games left on its regular season schedule, and sits a game behind Concordia for the eighth and final spot in the CCC tournament.
Previous Verizon Team of the Week awardees.