ST. PAUL— Gaining a comfortable lead over Northland College, the University of Northwestern claimed a 71-42 victory Friday night. Jessica Cole (Altoona, Iowa/Southeast Polk) stole the show as the freshman scored 16 points, her career best for a single game.

Northland took a 5-3 lead with 18:30 on the clock. Northwestern gradually gained a slow advantage with a score of 19-13 nine minutes into the half. Chanel Madson (Westbrook, Minn./Westbrook-Walnut Grove) with a key three pointer put the Eagles up 22-13, before NC's Briana Tody made a three of her own, keeping the Jills in the game. As Northland was unable to capitalize on shots, UNW carried a comfortable lead. Regan Cooper (Pella, Iowa/Pella) brought the ball in the lane, launching the Purple and Gold to a 29-16 lead. Jacki Smith (Shoreview, Minn./Concordia Academy) made a crowd-pleasing stuff with five minutes to go, stealing possession from Northland in the final stretch. Jessica Cole (Altoona, Iowa/Southeast Polk) stole the ball, making a breakaway layup bringing the score to 34-16 at the three minute mark. The Blue and Orange remained scoreless for a six minute stretch, until Kaitlyn Witthun made a jumper. Emily Van Lith (Minot, N.D./Our Redeemers)'s pair of charity points ended the half with a score of 41-18.

The second period started off slow, until each team racked up a shot from downtown. Briana Tody's took place at 17:26 followed by UNW's Tiffany Stubbs (Ames, Iowa/Des Moines Christian)' at 16:58. With a score of 44-23, Northwestern continued to hold a comfortable lead.  Jessica Cole (Altoona, Iowa/Southeast Polk) made her first three of the night with ten minutes remaining, as the Eagles advanced to a 58-32 lead. Head coach Daryle Tucker called a timeout to regroup with six minutes left in the game, trailing the Eagles 62-34. Cole scored a layup off of Jackie Foster (Charles City, Iowa/Charles City)'s steal, draining a three-pointer just moments later, adding five easy points for the home team.  Head coach Aaron Kahl changed the line-up, allowing Lily Grothe (Mendota Heights, Minn./Minnehaha Academy) and Maddie Johnson (St. Paul, Minn./Minnehaha Academy) to add a few points for the squad in the final minutes of play. As time ran out, Northwestern secured the 71-42 win.

Offensive leaders for the home team included freshman Jessica Cole (Altoona, Iowa/Southeast Polk) (16) and senior Jacki Smith (Shoreview, Minn./Concordia Academy) (10). Shooting 44.3 percent for field goals and 36.8 for threes, placed the Eagles at higher percentage than the LumberJills' 31.4 for field goals and 28 percent for threes.

The Eagles (14-8, 10-1 UMAC) will host the College of St. Scholastica tomorrow afternoon at the Ericksen Center with a tipoff time of 3 p.m.