Box Score KIRKLAND - A potential game-winning shot in the closing seconds of regulation missed for The Evergreen State College and the host Northwest Eagles took advantage in winning a hard-fought 86-80 overtime thriller in Cascade Collegiate Conference women's basketball action Tuesday night inside NU Pavilion.

With a win tonight, the Geoducks (9-13 overall, 7-11 CCC) would have assured themselves a berth in the eight-team conference postseason tournament, but it was not to be as the Eagles (8-17, 5-11) secured the victory while at the same time keeping their slim playoff hopes alive.

Northwest University had the hot hand early, breaking away from a 7-7 tie and holding the lead into the fourth quarter - except for one tie early in the third period - before the Geoducks rallied.

Trailing by 10 points late in the third quarter and by nine points entering the final stanza, the visitors dug deep and got back into the game, finally taking their first lead of the game at 70-69 when Deidra Miller found Alexcis Higginbotham cutting to the basket for a layin. Northwest regained a 73-71 lead on a Miranda Langenhorst layup with 1:14 to play before Jahpera McEachin once again knotted the score, making a steal and finishing at the other end of the floor.

The Eagles were attempting to work the clock done for a final shot when Higginbotham stole the ball, setting up Evergreen's potential game-winning attempt. Higginbotham got the ball and attempted a runner from about 10 feet, but her shot rolled around the rim before falling out. Langenhorst grabbed the rebound and Evergreen prevented the hosts from getting a good look at the basket, forcing the overtime.

Andie Kristinat scored the first five points of the extra period for the Eagles, and though Evergreen got to within one point they couldn't overturn that early deficit.

McEachin, who played all 45 minutes, finished with 24 points and three steals for the Geoducks, who also got a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double from Cayla Jones and 19 points and seven rebounds from Higginbotham. The Geoducks shot 43 percent from the field (31-for-73), just 22 percent from three-point range (5-for-23) and 62 percent from the foul line (13-for-21), 16 percent below their season mark that ranks fourth best in NAIA Division II women's basketball.

Langenhorst, Northwest's 6-2 junior center, snagged 12 rebounds and shot 9-for-10 from the field and 8-for-8 from the free throw line to finish with 26 points. Mariah Stacona added a double-double for the Eagles with 19 points and 10 assists, and Emily Henderson came off the bench to score 16 points. With Langenhorst leading the way, the Eagles shot 46 percent overall (33-for-72) and enjoyed a 53-35 rebounding margin.

The Geoducks remain very much in the hunt for a playoff spot but will have to wait 10 days until they return to action when Multnomah University comes to Olympia for another conference clash.