PORTLAND, Ore. – Playing in their last non-conference game before their CCC campaign begins, the Knights of Warner Pacific University came away with the win against the Lions of Multnomah University with a final score of 75-71.

Alaygza Portis was the first player on the board after landing a 3 to put the Lions ahead 3-0. However the Knights battled back and went on a run, going up by as much as 6 points. After back-to-back 3's from Sequioa Wheeler, Multnomah was only down by 1 at the end of the first quarter.

The cross-town competitors continued to fight for every possession and traded leads all throughout the first half. At the half, the teams were tied up 34 points apiece. Wheeler tallied three of the seven 3's from the Lions, with one each from Payton Wangler, Maddie Hill, Alaygza Portis, and Katie Skramstad to give them a total of seven before going into the locker rooms.

Less than a minute into the second half, Multnomah gained a 6-point advantage after Portis scored 3 points the hard way, and Wangler nailed a 3 just thirty seconds later . After taking advantage of turnovers, the Knights had the game tied up again at 40's with six and a half minutes left. The consistent play continued throughout the third quarter and finished with Warner Pacific up by 1 going into the fourth.

The Knights did not let go of their lead for the remainder of the game and held a 9-point separation with two and a half minutes left, 72-63. Multnomah chipped away but was unable to overcome the difference, losing by 4 with a final score of 75-71. The teams finished with a combined total of 37 fouls on the night.

Alaygza Portis from Multnomah led all scorers after finishing with 23, and also held the team high for rebounds with 9. Payton Wangler and Sequioa Wheeler both landed 4 from behind the arc, and finished with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Maddie Hill rounded out the double-digit crew with 12 points.

The Lions will begin their conference season with an overall record of 0-7, and are set to host Eastern Oregon University on March 19^th and 20^th with 1pm tip-off's.