Box Score

NAMPA, Idaho –The Carroll College women's basketball team fell to NCAA D-II Northwest Nazarene 78-75 in a tightly contested road exhibition game Saturday afternoon.

The Saints led 33-15 with 8:21 left in the first half before NNU battled back to cut the Carroll lead to 41-35 at the half.

Northwest Nazarene took the lead with 14:44 remaining in the game and led by seven with 11L44 remaining before Carroll battled back.

The Saints took a 64-61 lead with 6:11 remaining on a Baylee Watson jumper in the paint. The Saints led until the final two minutes when NNU took the  72-71 lead on a put back by Ellen Ferrenburg.

Carroll had one more opportunity, down one with seven second remaining when a turnover led to free throws for NNU.  Bailey Snelling launched a three-pointer at the buzzer but it missed and Northwest Nazarene prevailed.

"I am proud of the way our kids battled back after being down seven in the second half," head coach Rachelle Sayers said. "We gave ourselves a chance to win in the final seconds against a quality Division-II team. "

Cassidy Hashley scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Kalee Junkermier scored 19 points to lead Carroll.

"Cassidy had a great game," Sayers said. "21 points and 11 rebounds is a great game for any player but as a freshman, and against a D-II team it was pretty awesome to see."

Along with Hashley and Junkermier, Bailey Paste scored in double-figures with 11. 

The Saints were also impacted by who wasn't in the lineup tonight and won't be in the lineup all weekend. Junior starting point guard Katie Estey missed the trip with an illness.

"It was great to see the kids adjust to not having Katie on the floor," Sayers said. "We made some big plays when we needed to and battled back to give ourselves a chance to win. We did all that without one of our team leaders and I am proud of what I saw."

Five Northwest Nazarene players hit double digits with Ellie Logan and Taylor Simmons lead the way with 13 points each.

Although it was an exhibition game for the Saints, it is the fifth game against a Division II or I opponent for Carroll this season. The tough slate is part Sayers' plan to help her young team mature.

"I think the biggest thing is that you learn how to play under pressure and we are learning more about our team," Sayers said. " Right now our record isn't tremendous but we are playing some tough competition and we are going to be much better prepared for conference play."

The slate doesn't get easier for Carroll. The Saints face Boise State at Taco Bell Arena at 2 p.m. Sunday. It will also be an exhibition for Carroll.