ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Northwestern women's basketball team welcomed UW-Eau Claire to the Ericksen Center for the 2018-19 season opener. The Eagles fell to the Blugolds, 75-56 in final scoring.
 
Northwestern enters the new season after posting a 14-13 overall mark last year. Eau Claire is coming off an 18-9 season and were picked to finish second in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC).
 
The Blugolds jumped out to a 19-7 first quarter lead, but were outscored by Northwestern in second-quarter play (21-16). The Eagles entered the half trailing by just seven thanks to a last second three-pointer by Megan Stubbs (Pleasant Hill, Iowa/Grand View Christian).
 
The start of the third quarter looked promising as Miranda Crenshaw (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) scored in the paint to pull Northwestern within five. The Blugolds responded by going on a 12-0 run, a run that seemed to completely change the course of second-half play.
 
Freshman Kelsea Lund (Madison, Minn./La qui Parle Valley) led the Eagles with 16 points on four of eight shooting from beyond the arc. Two more Northwestern players recorded double-digit scoring. Junior forward Rio Landers (Grand Meadow, Minn./Grand Meadow) added thirteen points and a team-best nine boards, while Brooklyn DeKam (Edgerton, Minn./Southwest MN Christian) added 10 points.
 
Amy Berglund (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) dished out six assists and added two steals. Northwestern shot 33% from the field as the Blugolds connected on 46%, scoring 30 points in the paint.
 
The Eagles will hunt for their first win of the season as they get right back to action on Monday, Nov. 12. UNW will welcome St. Kate's for a 7 p.m. tipoff at the Ericksen Center.
 
Follow Northwestern women's basketball online this season at www.unweagles.com or on Instagram and Twitter at @unwwbb.