Box Score

ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn. (Dec. 8, 2007) – The Northwestern College women's basketball team kicked off their 2007-08 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) schedule with a bang on Saturday afternoon, handing Crown College a 68-53 defeat. After staring their season's schedule at 0-6, the Eagles have won their last two contests.

NWC head coach Linda Schuck had four of her players tally double figures, including Kaelee Kendrick (Eagan, Minn./Bethany Academy) (Eagan, Minn./Bethany Academy) and Ariel Liesch (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial), who each had 16 points in the win. Katie Tuseth (White Bear Lake, MN/White Bear Lake High School) (White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake) and Kelly Zuleger (Cresco, IA/Crestwood High School) (Cresco, Iowa/Crestwood) each added 11 points, respectively.

The Eagles were able to calm the Storm rather quickly, as Northwestern held a 21-point halftime lead at 44-23. Crown out-scored NWC in the second half, but the Storm wasn't able to mount much of a comeback, as the Eagles won their initial conference game in 68-53 fashion.

NWC held as much as a 28-point lead five minutes into the second half.

Northwestern shot 44.4 percent in the first half to level their game's average at 37.5 percent. Crown, who shot 38.5 in the game, held a 35-25 advantage in total rebounds, but it was the Eagles who committed less turnovers at 16-22.

Nine of Tuseth's 11 points came behind the arc, as the senior was 3-for-3 from long range. Liesch also added four 3's in the game.

Mary DeVries had a double-double for Crown, netting 11 points to go with 12 rebounds. Stephanie Schmitz had a team-high 19 points for the Storm.

Northwestern (2-6, 1-0 UMAC) will return to non-conference action on Thursday, when they travel to Superior, Wis. to take on UW-Superior. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.