Box Score Game Reaction: Head Coach Aaron Kahl

ST. PAUL -- Down by 14 points at halftime, the Northwestern College women's basketball team gave the fans in attendance a game in the second half as the Eagles tied the Cougars from the University of Minnesota Morris several times before ultimately losing 82-78. Northwestern went eight minutes without a missed basket at one point in the second half, making 75 percent of its shots, many of which came in the paint.

The Eagles didn't have a terrible initial 20 minutes, but Morris came out hot. The Cougars built up a double digit lead just after the 10 minute mark, thanks in part to several made three-point buckets. Minnesota Morris drained half of their 10 attempts from downtown in the half and went into the locker room with a 40-26 lead, signaling that a high scoring affair was coming.

Northwestern battled back right off the bat in the second period. After a missed jumper at the 19:03 mark, the Eagles didn't miss again until eight minutes later. In that period, the Eagles turned a 14-point deficit into a three-point game as Kasie Shoberg (Chisago City, Minn./Chisago Lakes)'s layup at 12:07 cut the margin to 51-48. The Purple and Gold found success inside the lane, where they ultimately gleaned 28 points in the period. A Kristin Sczublewski (Pierz, Minn./Pierz) trey tied the game at 58-58, keeping NWC engaged. As soon as the Cougars would start to build a three- and four-point lead, the Eagles would respond with a big basket. When the Morris buffer got to six on a pair of free throws from Jenni Noordmans in the final 30 seconds, Chanel Madson (Westbrook, Minn./Westbrook-Walnut Grove) hit a big three. But Northwestern was forced to foul, and the Cougars left the Ericksen Center with a four-point win.

The Purple and Gold finished with a 56 percent shooting mark, the Eagles' best to date this season. NWC made seven of its 15 attempts from downtown while the home team remained consistent at the charity stripe, converting on 85 percent of its free throws.

Four Eagles scored in double figures including Sczublewski, who found a niche by driving in the lane. The senior finished with a career-best 22 points on 9-15 shooting while dishing out eight assists. Madson followed with 18 points, while Jessica Fife (Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo) turned in a 17-point performance. Northwestern dished out 17 assists while committing 13 turnovers on the night.

Alyssa Silva and Noordmans provided a one-two punch for Morris, as both players finished with 17 points. Emily Mehr had 15 points, nine of which came from big three-point shots. As a team, the Cougars (5-6, 2-0 UMAC) shot 47 percent from the floor and 52 percent from behind the three-point line.

The loss drops Northwestern to 4-9 on the season and evens the Eagles UMAC record at 1-1. NWC will look to return to the win column on Saturday when Presentation College comes to town. The Hoops Hysteria game will tipoff at 3 p.m. in the Ericksen Center gymnasium.