ST. PAUL – The University of Northwestern women's basketball team defeated visiting Bethany Lutheran (6-8, 4-3) in thrilling fashion Friday evening, as the Eagles locked up sole possession of third place in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) after downing the Vikings 63-60. UNW improves to 8-6 overall and 5-2 in league play.

UNW jumped out to a 15-10 advantage play after the first quarter and then went into the locker room with a 31-27 lead after an evenly played second quarter. In a back-and-forth second half, the Eagles found themselves tied at 57 all with 2:19 to play, but a pair of Andrea Zimpel (Isle, Minn./Isle) free throws gave UNW a lead it wouldn't relinquish, as Northwestern grabbed a 63-60 victory.

Tiffany Stubbs (Ames, Iowa/Des Moines Christian) stayed hot from long range, as the senior cashed in four 3-pointers to finish with a game-high 16 points. Abby Peterson (St. Paul, Minn./Como Park) - who transferred in at semester – had a strong night, finishing with 12 points and six rebounds. Taryn Tumbleson (Sherburn, Minn./Martin County West) dropped in 11 points to be the third Eagle in double figures, while Emily VanLith (Minot, N.D./Our Redeemers) finished one point shy of a double-double after pulling down 10 boards.

Northwestern shot 39.7 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from 3-point land.

The Eagles will host Martin Luther College Saturday in the annual Hoops Hysteria contest. Tip-off inside the Ericksen Center is set for 3 p.m.