KIRKLAND – The Evergreen State College started slowly Tuesday night and never recovered as the Northwest University Eagles defeated the Geoducks, 60-42, in the Cascade Collegiate Conference women's basketball opener for both teams played at NU Pavilion.

Northwest (4-4 overall, 1-0 CCC) never trailed in the game, building a 23-7 advantage by the end of the first quarter and keeping the Geoducks at arm's length the rest of the way.

Evergreen (1-5, 0-1) was able cut down its early deficit to 10 points on several occasions in the second period and went into the locker room at the half trailing 32-22.

At that point, both teams were shooting 33 percent from the field, though the Eagles had taken 15 more shots (13-for-39) compared to the Geoducks (8-for-24). Rebounds were also the same at 22 apiece, so the most significant difference was turnovers. Through the game's first 20 minutes the Geoducks had turned the ball over 17 times compared to eight for the hosts.

The teams stayed on pretty even terms in the third quarter – a recent problem area for the Geoducks – and the Eagles took a 44-32 edge into the final quarter.

Evergreen needed to get off to a quick start in that final period, but instead it was the host team that rebuilt its 16-point advantage at 48-32 with 7:12 on the clock.

To their credit, the Geoducks battled back by scoring eight of the next nine points, four each by Asiyah Davis and Imani Dunn, to cut their deficit under double digits at 49-40 with 4:19 remaining in the game. But just when the Geoducks seemed poised to make it close down the stretch, the hosts responded with three-point baskets on their next three possessions to pull away for good.

The Geoducks ended up shooting just 30 percent (15-for-50) from the field compared to 38 percent (24-for-64) for the Eagles. Rebounds went to the hosts by a 42-36 count and final turnover totals showed Evergreen with 28 compared to Northwest's 19.

Davis was the only Evergreen player to reach double-figure scoring as she finished with 11 points. Dunn, Corina Tacardon and Gabi Fenumiai each added eight points, and Kylie Gorton led the team with eight rebounds.

Miranda Langenhorst came into the game averaging a double-double for the Eagles and she finished with one in this game, scoring 13 points and grabbing a game-high 15 rebounds. Mariah Stacona was 5-for-8 from three-point range in scoring a game-high 15 points for the hosts.

Evergreen returns to action at 5:30 p.m. Friday when it hosts Douglas College from British Columbia in a non-conference contest.