Box Score

MENOMONIE, Wis. (Dec. 2, 2008) – The Northwestern College women's basketball team lost to the University of Wisconsin-Stout 65-63 at the buzzer on Tuesday night.  Julia Hirssig rescued Danielle DeWitt's missed three-point attempt with a successful second put-back as time expired to relieve the home crowd of a potential upset by the Eagles.

Northwestern led by as much as six points before UW-Stout owned a 32-29 halftime lead.  After the Eagles battled back to lead by five points again with under four minutes to play in the game, Stout went on an 8-0 run to go up by three.  NWC's Marcy Nelson (Sandstone, Minn./East Central) (Sandstone, Minn./East Central) made a three-point basket to even the score at 63-63 with 16 ticks left before Hirssig's buzzer-beater sealed the deal for the Blue Devils.

The Eagles shot 44.6 percent from the floor while holding Stout to an even 37 percent, including 2 for 18 (11 percent) from behind the three-point line.  While committing three more turnovers than their opponents, the Blue Devils out-rebounded Northwestern 53-28, including 27-5 in offensive boards.  Free throw shooting also hurt the Eagles, as they were only able to make three of nine attempts from the charity stripe.

Ariel Liesch (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) and Katie DeWitt (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) led NWC with 21 and 17 points respectively.  Both players grabbed a team-leading nine rebounds in the game.  Nelson's 3-for-5 night resulted in eight points for Northwestern.

Stout (4-1 overall) had three players in double figures, including Hirssig, who led her team with 18 points and nine rebounds.  Kim Stokke had 13 points and eight boards, while DeWitt added 11 points.

Northwestern (1-6 overall) will be happy to enter UMAC conference play, facing teams that the Eagles are more familiar with.  This weekend's league-openers will be equally tough though, as the College of St. Scholastica and preseason favorite Northland College await.  NWC will start with St. Scholastica in a 5:30 p.m. contest on Friday in Duluth, Minn.