UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill. – Behind a game-high 36 points from Cassidy Deno (Otterbein, Ind./Benton Central), the No. 15 Purdue University Northwest women's basketball team won its regular-season finale at Governors State Saturday, 79-61.

Deno (Otterbein, Ind./Benton Central) hit 10 of 17 shots from the field and sank all 14 of her free-throw attempts to lead PNW (23-7, 18-3 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference), who clinched a No. 3 seed heading into the CCAC Tournament, set to begin Wednesday, Feb. 22. Deno added nine boards and two blocks in the effort. The Pride will host a CCAC quarterfinal game, with the time and opponent to be determined.

PNW classmate Darien Thompson (Anderson, Ind./Anderson) (Anderson, Ind./Anderson) added 20 points on 7-of-15 from the field and junior post Ellie Michalski (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) chipped in eight points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in the win, which gave PNW 18 conference wins on the season, which breaks the 17-3 mark from the 2012-13 season.

Purdue Northwest led by just six, 37-31, at the half, and the Jaguars (7-22, 6-15) then outscored PNW 23-14 in the third frame to take a 54-51 heading into the final 10 minutes. That's when PNW made its move, using a 28-7 run to close out the game to take the road win.

Deno and Thompson took over in the fourth, with Deno draining a triple to open the fourth to finish with 15 in the frame and Thompson adding two jumpers in a pivotal sequence. Thompson's jumper at the 8:55 mark tied the game at 56-all and Deno's two ensuing free throws gave the Pride the lead for good.

PNW shot 45.5 percent (25-of-55) for the game compared to 30.8 percent (24-of-78) for GSU, with the Pride dominating at the free-throw line, making 25-of-30 (83.3 percent) compared to 9-of-13 (69.2 percent) for the host.

PNW's Jessica Kiser (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) added six points, eight boards and two assists in the effort.

Achuyannua Robinson led GSU with 19 points in the setback.

Purdue Northwest will return to action Wednesday, Feb. 22, when the Pride host a CCAC Tournament quarterfinal contest against an opponent and time yet to be determined.