Post-game interview with Sydney Donaldson

Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Forward Sydney Donaldson (Sr., Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway) hit a 16-foot jumper at the buzzer, lifting Western Washington University to a 70-69 triumph over Northwest Nazarene University on Thursday, Feb. 5, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball contest at Sam Carver Gymnasium on the WWU campus.

The Vikings, making their first home appearance in nearly three weeks, improved to 14-7 overall and 8-4 in the GNAC with their eighth triumph in the last 10 games. Center Kayla Bernsen (Jr., Moses Lake) had a game-high 19 points for WWU.

NNU fell to 5-16 overall and 3-9 in the GNAC with its 12th loss in the last 14 contests. Taylor Simmons had 15 points for the Crusaders, who had five players in double figures.

The Vikings held a 68-57 lead with 5:40 to play, but NNU scored the next 12 points, taking a 69-68 lead on a steal and fastbreak layin by Lexi Tubbs with 1:25 to play.

The Crusaders had two possessions to extend the margin, but didn't convert either one, giving the Vikings the ball with 18 seconds left. WWU worked the ball to Bernsen, whose post up from the right block rolled off. Ellie Logan grabbed the rebound for NNU, but fell down in traffic and was called for travelling, giving WWU a final opportunity with 1.8 seconds to play.

Katie Colard (Sr., McCleary/Elma) inbounded the ball from under the basket, finding Donaldson, whose shot from the left elbow of the key rolled in as time expired. Colard and Taylor Peacocke (So., Kenmore/Inglemoor) each had 12 points for the Vikings, and Jenni White (Sr., Spokane/East Valley) added 11 points and seven assists.

Logan had 14 points for NNU, Kate Cryderman added 12, and Tubbs and Katie Swanson each scored 10, with Tubbs also getting game-highs of 13 rebounds and five steals.

The Vikings hit four of their first five 3-point attempts and jumped to a 21-8 lead eight minutes into the contest. NNU used a run of 11 consecutive points as WWU went six minutes without a field goal to narrow the margin to 28-26 with 4:50 remaining.

The Crusaders eventually took a 31-30 lead on a layin by CoCo Gall with 1:58 left in the half, but the Vikings recovered to hold a 35-33 advantage at halftime.

WWU leads the series with NNU, 27-9, winning 14 of the last 15 meetings.

WWU, which was coming off four consecutive road games, entertains Central Washington University on Saturday, Feb. 7 (7 p.m.), in GNAC counter at Carver Gym.