ELLENSBURG, Wash.- The Central Washington University women's basketball team fell 74-71 to Northwest Nazarene University Tuesday evening in Nicholson Pavilion.
 
Tuesday's loss to the Nighthawks snaps CWU's six game win streak and drops them to 10-5 in GNAC play and 14-9 overall.
 
"It was too little too late," CWU head coach Randi Richardson-Thornley said. "In the first half, we allowed NNU to control the pace which is the style of basketball they like. We lost our composure tonight and could not make easy shots. We got back to doing our thing in the second half and it showed. We won the second half, but when you play a good team like NNU early mistakes will cost you."
 
The Wildcats gained their first lead of the game in the fourth minute of action when senior Beverly Verduin pulled up from three-point range. Rachel Lorentson scored five straight points for Central to extend their lead to four (15-11) heading into the first media timeout. Lorentson continued to light it up from all areas of the court following the break, draining a shot from deep followed by a midrange jumper. Lorentson scored 10 points (4-of-6) in the opening frame to give Central a 25-23 advantage heading into the second quarter.
 
NNU came out strong in the second quarter, scoring 13 of the first 14 points to jump out to a 36-26 lead with 2:51 remaining. Two free throws by Kassidy Malcolm ended the Nighthawk's run, but NNU still managed to enter halftime up 41-31. Northwest Nazarene shot an impressive 53.5-percent (8-of-15) in the second quarter and held the Wildcats to a measly 6.3-percent.
 
The Wildcat's shooting troubles continued in the third quarter, but a layup by Taylor Baird with 2:10 remaining closed the scoring margin to single digits (52-43). Baird continued to stay aggressive in the paint, registering another basket in the closing seconds to end the quarter with CWU trailing 57-48.
 
Things started to click for the Wildcats with 2:34 remaining in the game. A layup by Alexis Pana sparked a 6-0 run for CWU, decreasing NNU's lead to just three (70-67). Trailing 74-71 with five seconds remaining, Pana forced an NNU turnover and had a chance to even the score with a last-second shot. She pulled up from three-point range, but the shot fell just short to allow NNU to escape with the 74-71 victory. 
 
Pana led CWU with 19 points, four assists and three rebounds. Baird finished one rebound shy of her fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and nine boards. Lorentson came away with 12 points and six rebounds, while Jasmin Edwards notched a team-high five assists.
 
Lexi Tubbs, who scored a game-high 31 points on 10-of-17 shooting, led the Nighthawks.
 
Central Washington will return to action on Thursday, Feb. 8 as they play host to Montana State Billings. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. PST in Nicholson Pavilion.
 
-CWU-