ASHLAND, Wis. – The Northwestern College women's basketball team is returning home for a Saturday home game after defeating second-seeded Northland College 49-37 in the semifinal round of the UMAC Tournament..  The No. 4 Eagles will host No. 6 seed Presentation College on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Neither team was able to gain a significant advantage in the first half as the score teeter-tottered back and forth.  Northwestern built a five-point lead throughout the final seven minutes of the first half before leading 24-19 at halftime.  The Eagles' lead grew to double digits when Katie DeWitt (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) hit a jump shot with 7:33 left in the game.  Another DeWitt jumper at the 4:18 mark gave NWC its largest lead of the game at 14 points, and the Eagles cruised to an upset 49-37 victory.

Northwestern found its success on the boards, outrebounding its opponents 32-19 in the game.  As a team, the Eagles overcame a 9-28 first half shooting performance to finish at 39 percent for the game.  Northland, on the other hand, made just 25 percent of its shots.  NWC held last year's UMAC Player of the Year in Lindsey Hamm to 3-12 shooting, including 1-9 from behind the three-point line.

DeWitt led Northwestern with 23 points and 14 points to chalk up yet another double-double on the season.  Ashley Filipi (Fertile, Minn./Ada-Bourp) (Fertile, Minn./Ada-Borup) added seven points and eight rebounds for the Eagles.  No LumberJills scored in double figures, adding to the team's offensive woes in the game.

Northwestern is peaking at the right time after suffering a five-game losing streak at the end of the regular season.  The Eagles have now won two in a row and own a 14-12 overall record heading into Saturday's tournament championship game.  Presentation and Northwestern split their regular season bouts this season, with the Saints winning the latest affair in double overtime on Feb. 20.