Box Score ST. PAUL – The Northwestern College women's basketball team ended its first round of Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) play on a high note, finishing the weekend sweep with a 64-55 victory over Northland College Saturday afternoon. The Eagles posted an 11-point advantage at halftime that would hold strong throughout the second half as NWC improved to 6-1 in conference play.



Northwestern led the charge early, as Chanel Madson (Westbrook, Minn./Westbrook-Walnut Grove), Hannah Holm (Charlotte, N.C./GRACE School), and Mollie Sir (Cresco, Iowa/Crestwood) all contributed to an 8-0 lead less than two minutes into the contest. Northland tightened the reigns with a 9-2 run of its own bringing the game within one, but the home team responded again and pushed the lead out to 20-11 with 12:03 to play in the half.

Less than a minute later a pair of Sir makes from the charity stripe stretched the lead to 11, a double digit lead Northwestern would hold on to for much of the remaining period. Jessica Jaeckel brought the Lumberjills within eight with 2:29 left of on the clock, but Courtney Cunard (Missouri Valley, Iowa/Missouri Valley) quickly increased the safe zone to 10. As the first half buzzer sounded, NWC headed into the locker room with a 34-23 upper hand after producing 12 points off of Northland turnovers.

The second period provided the Eagles with a bit more cushion, up to 26 points with 14:40 still to play, thanks in part to some offensive action by Madson, Jessica Fife (Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo), Kim Campbell (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy), and company. The visitors from Ashland, Wis. chipped away at the margin and brought the game to 35-55 before a Cunard triple and jumper compounded on an Ellie Werlein (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge Christian) close-range make gave NWC its largest lead of the game just under the 10 minute mark.

Yet again, the Lumberjills showed momentum and brought the game within single digits with 2:42 remaining after a 20-2 rally. Even amidst a scoring drought in the final 9:42, the Eagles were able to secure the game after a pair of Holm free throws hit the bottom of the net, ending the game with a 64-55 win.

In total, Northland outscored NWC 32-30 in the second half, but 27 home points off 21 Lumberjill turnovers helped provide lead security that lasted as time ran out. Additionally, the Eagles shot 44.6% from the field in comparison to the visitors' percentage of 36.6.
Northwestern (6-1 UMAC, 11-7 overall) was led in scoring by the trio of Madson, Cunard, and Fife, who all reached double digits with 14, 12, and 10 points respectively. As a team, the Eagles forced 13 steals and contributed 16 assists in the team's scoring efforts.

Next up for the Purple and Gold is a brief road trip down the road to Minneapolis as the squad will take on North Central University on Tuesday night. The third tipoff of the season between the two teams is scheduled for 5 p.m.