ST. PAUL (Mar. 9, 2008) – Northwestern College's bid to go to the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Tournament was held short on Saturday, as Trinity International University (Ill.) handed the Eagles a 53-43 defeat in the Ericksen Center. 

 

Early signs showed that the game wasn't going to be a high-scoring affair, as neither team had 15 points before midway through the first half. After Northwestern led 12-7 with 12:43 to play in the period, Trinity International took the lead three minutes later, as Monique DeLoatch hit a jumper to put the Lady Trojans up 16-14. The Eagles only scored two more field goals before the 20 minute mark, as Trinity went into the locker room with a 27-23 halftime lead.

 

Northwestern couldn't find a spark in the early goings of the second half, failing to convert a field goal until the 13:46 point, when Katie Tuseth (White Bear Lake, MN/White Bear Lake High School) (White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake) hit a jumper to cut Trinity's lead to 36-25. Combined with the first half, NWC went through a scoring drought that lasted more than nine minutes without a successful shot. 

 

Linda Schuck's team fought back though, as two made free throws from Rachael Bohnen (Grand Marais, MN/Cook County High School) (Grand Marais, Minn./Cook County) brought Northwestern within three at 40-37 with 4:53 to play.

 

Trinity finished the final minutes with a 13-6 run, ending the Eagles' hopes at a national tournament appearance with a 53-43 final.

 

Neither team shot well, as Trinity was 20-of-55 for 36.4 percent, while Northwestern countered with a 14-for-42 effort (33.3 percent). The Trojans hammered NWC under the hoop, owning a 10-0 advantage in points in the paint.

 

Turnovers haunted the Eagles all game, as they committed 23, compared to Trinity's 12. Northwestern actually scored more points off of turnovers though, owning a 15-14 advantage in that category.

 

Bohnen finished with a team-high 13 points for Northwestern, going 4-of-10 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. Kelly Zuleger (Cresco, IA/Crestwood High School) (Cresco, Iowa/Crestwood) and Tuseth ended their careers at NWC in fitting fashion, scoring 11 and 10 points. Tuseth grabbed 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season, while Kaelee Kendrick (Eagan, Minn./Bethany Academy) (Eagan, Minn./Bethany Academy) also brought down 10 boards.

 

Trinity International (17-17, 7-3 CCAC) advances to the NCCAA National Tournament with the win.

 

Northwestern's season comes to an end at 15-13 (7-3 UMAC), snapping a nine-game winning streak that dated back to Feb. 1.

 

The Eagles squad looks bright for years to come, as the team's top two scorers in Ariel Liesch (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) (UMAC Player of the Year) and Kendrick return for their junior campaigns in 2008-09.