2009-10 season comes to a close as NWC falls to Bethel (Ind.)

Box Score

MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- The Northwestern College women's basketball team fell short of advancing to the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Tournament on Saturday as the Eagles lost to Bethel College (Ind.) in the NCCAA North Central Region championship game 86-63. Although the Eagles had one of their better shooting performances of the 2010 season, Northwestern couldn't do anything to cool off Bethel's even-hotter hands.

After Northwestern held Bethel in check at 6-5 with just two minutes off the clock, the Pilots went off, leaping to a 13-point lead over the next ten minutes of play. By the time the buzzer sounded at halftime, the Eagles found themselves losing 47-31. The second period wasn't much better for NWC, as Bethel's advantage ballooned to as much as 28 points before the Eagles closed out the game with eight straight points.

Northwestern's mistakes hurt early and often, as the Eagles committed 20 turnovers, while Bethel countered with just eight. NWC made 27 of its 59 shots for a 45.8 shooting percentage. Bethel, on the other hand, drained an almost even 50 percent of its shots and 42 percent of its 31 attempts from long range.

Katie DeWitt (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) led all players with 24 points, making 11 of her 20 attempts from the floor. The Eagles' Ariel Liesch (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) went on streaks where the senior couldn't miss before finishing the game 7-11 overall and 6-7 from downtown for 20 points. Megan Myhre (Barnum, Minn./Barnum) (Barnum, Minn./Barnum) chipped in eight points in Northwestern's loss.

Bethel was paced by Mandy Yoder, who finished with 23 points. Heather Seyfred knocked down six of her nine shots for 18 points on the day.

Northwestern ends its 2009-10 season with an overall record of 15-13. The highlight of the Eagles' season had to be the last week of February, when fourth-seeded Northwestern won three straight games to claim the UMAC Tournament Championship.

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