ST. PAUL – The University of Northwestern resumed its winning ways with a convincing 82-49 victory over North Central University to kick off the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) portion of its 2014-2015 schedule. The Eagles received a double-double performance from Jacki Smith (Shoreview, Minn./Concordia Academy) while Chanel Madson (Westbrook, Minn./Westbrook-Walnut Grove) quietly poured in a game-best 26 points.

Northwestern scored the game's first nine points as head coach worked in a fast-paced pick-and-roll offensive set that the Rams struggled to figure out. UNW was getting points in the paint, with Regan Cooper (Pella, Iowa/Osseo) and Smith scoring on layups, which opened up outside shooting for Madson, who went 6-8 from downtown throughout the 40-minute game. The Eagles' edge was at 15 just as six minutes had ticked off the clock with the white-clad Northwestern team never looking back. Cooper continued to open up the arc with her moves under the hoop while the Eagles defense virtually shut down North Central, who trailed by 20 on a Madson three-pointer with 3:56 to play in the first half.

What was an 18-point difference on the scoreboard at halftime ballooned to as much as 39 multiple times in the second period before the Eagles settled with a 33-point victory. Kahl was able to play 13 of his dressed student-athletes. Emily Van Lith (Minot, N.D./Our Redeemers) needed just 13 minutes to score six points while pulling down seven rebounds, six of which came when UNW was on offense. Freshman Jessica Rademacher (St. Croix Falls, Wis./St. Croix Falls) grabbed 10 boards in a mere nine minutes, giving Northwestern a glimpse of its future.

Northwestern owned a 17-rebound advantage at the final horn. The Eagles' 18 assists were seven better than the team's 11 turnovers. At 31-73 overall, UNW shot 42.5 percent from the field, 12 ticks above the Rams' 30 percent rate (18-60). The Eagles got 21 points off of North Central turnovers with 38 of the team's 82 points coming in the paint.

Now 5-7 overall, Northwestern will take its newly-minted 1-0 UMAC record on the road next weekend. The Eagles will face St. Scholastica and Northland on Friday and Saturday in back-to-back games that tip off at 5:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. in Duluth, Minn. and Ashland, Wis.