GRINNELL, Iowa – The University of Northwestern hit the road to take on the Grinnell College Pioneers in Friday night non-conference action. The Eagles put together a strong first half and a fourth quarter scoring-spree to capture their third straight win, posting a final score of 70-64.
 
Northwestern improves to 4-6 on the year, while Grinnell falls to 3-7 overall. Tonight marked the teams' first ever meeting.   
 
The Eagles shot 53% and jumped out to a 39-28 lead at the conclusion of first half play. The Pioneers came out firing, holding Northwestern to just nine points in the third quarter, but UNW didn't back down. After tying it up (47-47) with one minute remaining in the quarter, Amy Berglund (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) got to the line and connected on a free throw to quickly help Northwestern regain the lead.
 
It was Berglund again who got a jumper to go early in the fourth to extend the Eagles' lead to three. With the momentum back on their side, Northwestern put together an impressive 16-0 run – which proved to be enough to keep the Pioneers from executing a comeback of their own.
 
Rio Landers (Grand Meadow, Minn./Grand Meadow) led the Eagles offensively, scoring 19 points and pulling down nine rebounds. Landers also tacked on a game-best six blocks and has collected 23 on the year, leading the UMAC with an average of 2.3 per game.
 
Amy Berglund (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) added 14 points, while Kelsea Lund (Madison, Minn./La qui Parle Valley) finished with 10. Lund drained three of five shots from beyond the arc and currently leads the UMAC in three-point percentage (47%) with 25 makes.
 
Miranda Crenshaw (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) led the Eagles on the glass, pulling down 10 boards.
 
Northwestern will return to action on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 21 and 22 when they compete in Santa Cruz, Calif. The Eagles will take on Whitman College and the University of California, Santa Cruz. Games can be followed online HERE.