Box Score
ST. PAUL – The Northwestern College women's basketball team started Upper Midwest Athletic Conference action on a high note Tuesday night, earning a victory over visiting North Central University. Four different Eagles finished in double-digit scoring en route to the 71-51 win.
Northwestern picked up its first lead of the game 44 seconds into the contest after a
Mollie Sir (Cresco, Iowa/Crestwood) jumper found the net. North Central cut into the advancing lead, bringing the game within three points at the 13:15 mark, but a
Becca Kendrick (Eagan, Minn./Bethany Academy) triple combined with scoring from
Jacki Smith (Shoreview, Minn./Concordia Academy) and
Hannah Holm (Charlotte, N.C./GRACE School) increased the margin to nine before the first 10 minutes played out, putting the game at 18-9. The momentum kept rolling in the Eagles' favor as they reached their largest lead of the half at the 9:07 mark as a result of a
Jessica Fife (Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo) three-point play. NWC continued its strong first-half play and headed into the locker room with a 35-26 advantage after converting 16 points off of its opponents' turnovers in the first 20 minutes of play.
The second half featured balanced scoring from six different Northwestern players as the Purple and Gold continued to keep the game in its possession. The visiting team on the scoreboard cut the Eagles' lead to single digits at the 14:02 mark of the period as Melissa Kidd layup from the paint started a scoring drought which saw neither team get on the board for over two minutes of action. Fife ended that run, however, and provided a jump start into NWC's offense with a close-range make, resulting in a 47-36 upper hand for the home team.
The Eagles' final push came with just under 10 minutes remaining in the contest, as Northwestern outscored the Rams 12-3 on its way to its biggest lead of the game, 28 points, at the 3:40 mark as
Courtney Cunard (Missouri Valley, Iowa/Missouri Valley) led the run with four points of her own during the last stretch. All players in an NWC uniform saw the court before the buzzer ran out in favor of the home team, 71-51.
Chanel Madson (Westbrook, Minn./Westbrook-Walnut Grove) led the way in scoring for the sixth time this season, providing 17 points for the host team. Three other Eagles were close behind however, with Sir, Smith, and Fife adding in 14, 12, and 11 points respectively. Fife picked up a double-double in the conference victory, her fifth of the 2012-2013 campaign.
Northwestern (6-6 overall, 1-0 UMAC) won the rebounding battle 45-39, while also earning a victory in points off turnovers, 29-14.
The Eagles will once again take its home court on Friday, January 11, as the team takes on Martin Luther College at 5:30 p.m. Live stats and video will be available for Friday's contest.
