Eagles fall victim to UW-Stout

Box Score

ST. PAUL -- The Northwestern College women's basketball team got a taste of what a Top 25 team looks like on Tuesday evening, as No. 25 Wisconsin-Stout handed the Eagles an 81-67 loss in the Ericksen Center. Stout used a 51 percent shooting performance in the first half to build up a 49-30 halftime lead before coasting to a 14-point win.

Turnovers hampered NWC early, as the Blue Devils capitalized on the Eagles' mistakes to lead by 15 within the game's first minutes. After Stout led 31-10 at the 8:15 point of the first half, Northwestern cut their opponents' advantage to 16 within two minutes. The Blue Devils bumped their lead back to 21 though before ending the first half with a 49-30 lead.

The second half started almost exactly like the first, as Stout scored back-to-back baskets to lead 57-32. NWC figured out a way to beat the visitors though, using more of a spread offense to get the Blue Devils' lead down to 13 points at 78-65 before the final horn sounded with Stout claiming an 81-67 victory.

Throughout the game, Stout, who looked a lot like the Phoenix Suns of a few years back, continually pushed the ball up-court with their taller lineup. The strategy worked, as the Blue Devils owned an 8-0 advantage in fast break points. Northwestern's 21 turnovers turned into 27 points for UW-Stout, but the Eagles held their ground under the hoop, nearly matching the Blue Devils in points in the paint and total rebounds.

Northwestern shot an even 40 percent from the field in the game, while Stout answered with a 44 percent mark.

A trio of Eagles scored in double figures throughout the 40-minute contest, including Ariel Liesch (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial), who led the team with 19 points. Katie DeWitt (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial), who was named the UMAC Player of the Week on Tuesday, was just one rebound shy of a double-double as the senior scored 15 points to go with nine boards. Allison Johnson (Plymouth, Minn./Heritage Christian) (Greenfield, Minn./Heritage Christian) was also close to netting a double-double, recording 14 points and eight rebounds in the loss.

Stout was led by Julia Hirssig, who was 9-14 for 22 points to go with 15 rebounds, nine of which were on offense. Kim Stokke chipped in 14 points for the Blue Devils, who made 6 of their 11 3-point attempts in the first half before cooling off to finish the game 7-17 from downtown.

Northwestern's record slips to 2-2 on the season, while Stout picks up its first win of the season at 1-3. The Eagles will hit the road on Friday for a Thanksgiving weekend tournament hosted by Wisconsin-Eau Claire. NWC will play the Blugolds from UW-Eau Claire on their home court on Friday night at 8 p.m. The Eagles will then play either Dubuque or Carleton on Saturday evening.

Follow the tournament here:
http://www.uwecblugolds.com/?view=page&id=77&sport=wbkb&season=94

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Eagles fall victim to UW-Stout