Box Score Box Score
Game Reaction: Head Coach Aaron Kahl

ST. PAUL -- A 19-7 run to start the second half proved to be enough to lift Luther College over Northwestern College on Friday evening. The Norse outscored NWC 36-20 in the paint and out-rebounded the Eagles by 20 in a 66-56 final score.

Northwestern raced out to an early 7-0 lead that held strong until midway through the first period when Luther scored 14 straight points to take a 15-9 advantage. The Eagles battled back, reclaiming a slim one-point lead on a Chanel Madson (Westbrook, Minn./Westbrook-Walnut Grove) free throw until the Norse scored the final two baskets of the half to lead 29-25 at the break. Then came the big breakout by the visitors, putting the Eagles in a 16-point hole with 13:03 to play in the game. Northwestern battled, cutting the lead to six multiple times before the Eagles were forced to foul in the 10-point final difference.

NWC's 50 percents shooting rate brought the Eagles' game total to 22-51 (43 percent). The Purple and Gold committed 17 turnovers, which is down from past weeks' totals, but rebounding really hurt Northwestern. Luther's 21 offensive rebounds turned into 20 second chance points.

Madson was NWC's leading scorer, making eight of her 12 baskets for 19 points. The freshman, who recorded a personal best in scoring for the fourth time this season, was 6-8 from the field and 2-2 from behind the three-point line for 15 points in the first half alone.  Kristin Sczublewski (Pierz, Minn./Pierz) added 18 points on seven makes while grabbing six boards to go with six assists.  Mollie Sir (Cresco, Iowa/Crestwood) contributed 13 points on the night.

Taylor Johnson had 19 points to lead Luther while tallying 12 boards for a double-double.

Northwestern, now 2-5 on the season, will rest for the weekend before playing two games next week. The Eagles will first head to Minneapolis for a 5:30 p.m. game at North Central University on Tuesday before hosting Augsburg College next Saturday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m.