Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minn. (Feb. 1, 2008) – After leading by as much as 23 points, the Northwestern College women's basketball team hung on for a victory Friday night, defeating the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference's (UMAC) top team in the University of Minnesota-Morris 70-58.

 

Northwestern came out scorching, as they made their first seven shots of the game – five of which were 3-pointers. Overall, Northwestern shot 68 percent in the first half, including an 8-for-12 mark (66.7 percent) from downtown, to build up a 42-23 lead at the break.

 

Although the threes weren't going down for NWC as easy as they did in the first half, the Eagles withstood challenges from Morris that came as close as four points.

 

The Cougars were handicapped from the game's beginning, as they played without the UMAC's third-leading scorer in Tynell Kocer, who had been injured in UMM's Tuesday affair with Trinity Bible.

 

Northwestern leveled out at 53.2 percent from the field, making 11 of their 21 3-point attempts for a 52.4 mark. UM-Morris

 

Morris made their runs on 17 Northwestern turnovers, converting them into 30 points. The Eagles won the battle of second chance points though, outscoring the Cougars 12-2 following an offensive rebound.

 

Speaking of rebounds, NWC dominated on the boards as they owned a 41-20 advantage. 13 of Northwestern's rebounds came on the offensive end.

 

The Eagles' Katie Tuseth (White Bear Lake, MN/White Bear Lake High School) (White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake) led all scorers with 21 points, adding 11 rebounds for a double-double. The senior was three assists short of a triple-double as she chipped in seven assists. Kelly Zuleger (Cresco, IA/Crestwood High School) (Cresco, Iowa/Crestwood) added 16 points, making four of her five 3-point attempts and 5-of-8 overall.

 

Four Eagles hit double digits in the game.

 

Minnesota-Morris (12-6, 6-2 UMAC) was led by Marissa Maynard's 17 points.

 

Northwestern (7-12, 5-3 UMAC) will hit the hardwood again on Saturday, when they host Presentation, who came into Friday's play tied atop the UMAC with UMM. Tomorrow's 3 p.m. contest will kick off Hoops Hysteria, an event that will give out two $600 scholarships to Northwestern College with the possibility of free tuition for a year.