Box Score

ST. PAUL – The University of Northwestern moved to 3-0 to start its 2013-2014 season with a 52-48 come from behind victory over Macalester on Tuesday night. Trailing by 12 points midway through the first half, the Eagles fought back to get within six points at halftime before reclaiming the lead in the final 8:30 and hanging on through the end of the game.

The Eagles, who started the year's campaign with a sweep over Viterbo and Wisconsin-Stout on Friday and Saturday, were struggling to control the ball while the Scots' 6-3 Veronika Jakubovie was having her way in the paint. After getting the first basket of the night, Northwestern had issues getting the ball in the hoop as Macalester seemed to score almost at will. UNW wasn't able to reach double digits until 7:09 remaining in the first half when the visitor on the scoreboard already had 18 points. A three-point play from Chanel Madson (Westbrook, Minn./Westbrook-Walnut Grove) spurred the Eagles to an 8-3 run to bring Northwestern closer at 22-19 before Macalester finished with a late push to lead 29-23 at the half.

UNW head coach Aaron Kahl made some adjustments in the locker room before the Purple and Gold started to claw its way back. After Erin Murray's made basket had Macalester leading by eight, the Eagles' Mollie Sir (Cresco, Iowa/Crestwood) started to make her presence known with an outside jump shot, followed by successful jumpers from Hannah Holm (Charlotte, N.C./GRACE School) to bring Northwestern within two. At the same time, Jessica Fife (Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo) continued to work in the paint, grabbing rebounds and putting up points. The senior took advantage of a pair of free throws at the 10:29 point of the second half, draining both to tie the score at 36 points apiece. The Scots briefly led again before a 10-0 UNW run gave the home team the lead for good.

A Fife jump shot gave the Eagles their largest lead of the night at seven, but that advantage was hardly comfortable down the stretch when Macalester was within firing range at four points and then two as the clock slipped under a minute left in regulation. Taylor Pike missed a three-pointer that would have given the Scots a lead, but a big rebound from Fife followed by a Macalester foul solidified Northwestern's third win of the season with UNW winning 52-48.

The Eagles' second half defense held Mac to just five makes in the final 20 minutes as the Scots settled for a 31.5 percent shooting rate, while UNW made 19 of 40 baskets overall for a 47.5 percent clip. After committing 14 turnovers in the first half, Northwestern wrapped up the night with 20 turnovers overall.

Fife was the game's leading scorer with 17 points and seven rebounds, with Madson adding 11 points on 4-9 shooting. Holm came up big on the glass, accompanying her eight points with just as many rebounds despite Jakubovie and Macalester (1-2) grabbing 11 more boards throughout the game.

With Northwestern making its halftime adjustments, Jakubovie was scoreless in the second round, finishing with 10 points to lead her team.

The Eagles, who start their season at 3-0 for the first time since 2000-2001, will host another home game this Saturday, Nov. 23, when UNW welcomes Augsburg College to the Ericksen Center for a 1 p.m. tipoff.