ST. PAUL, MINN. -- The University of Northwestern women's basketball team started the new year by hosting the Northland College Lumberjills in Wednesday night action. The Eagles put together a dominant offensive effort, with six players finishing in double-figures to cruise to a 95-62 final win.
 
Northwestern improves to 8-6 on the year and 4-1 in UMAC play, while Northland falls to 2-9 (0-4) this season. UNW recorded its 19th win in the last 21 contests with the Lumberjills.
 
First quarter play set the tone for UNW as they went up by five to start the game. Northland would come within a few points of the Eagles throughout the quarter, but UNW continued to keep the lead, never trailing on the night.
 
Brooklyn DeKam (Edgerton, Minn./Southwest MN Christian) and Megan Roberts (Greeley, Colo./Dayspring Christian Academy) each had six points to end the first quarter play, while Rio Landers (Grand Meadow, Minn./Grand Meadow) grabbed five rebounds. The Eagles' largest lead in the opening quarter came in the fourth minute as they went up by eight. The quarter ended with Northwestern ahead of the Jills, 21-15.
 
The Lady Eagles came out strong and would double the Jill's second quarter scoring efforts. Kelsea Lund (Madison, Minn./La qui Parle Valley) added five points and Courtney Schmidt (Spring Valley, Minn./Kingsland) scored seven to keep the offense rolling. The Eagles forced 11 turnovers in the half with 13 of their 28 (second quarter) points being off of Northland turnovers. Northwestern continued to apply pressure on the offensive end to end the half up 49-29.
 
In third quarter action, the Jills continued to battle, cutting an early 30-point Eagle lead to 16. Northwestern responded with a run of their own as Kelsea Lund (Madison, Minn./La qui Parle Valley) added seven points to her total and Rio Landers (Grand Meadow, Minn./Grand Meadow) swatted seven shots to almost tie her career high eight blocks.
 
Up by 18 as four quarter play got underway, the Eagles were dominant on both ends of the court. UNW shot 53% from the field and added 24, fourth-quarter points to secure a 95-65 win. 
 
Six Northwestern players put together double-digit point totals led by Lund with 14. Rio Landers (Grand Meadow, Minn./Grand Meadow) finished with 13 points and nine rebounds, while Miranda Crenshaw (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) and Brooklyn DeKam (Edgerton, Minn./Southwest MN Christian) each added 12. Megan Roberts (Greeley, Colo./Dayspring Christian Academy) recorded a double-double with a 10 point, 10 rebound performance. Grace Langmade (Pine City, Minn./Pine City) added 10 points for the Eagles.
 
Jordan Sauve (Blaine, Minn./Blaine) had a team-best seven assists and three steals as Northwestern scored 56 points in the paint to Northland's 28.
 
The Eagles will have a conference bye this Saturday before returning home on Wednesday, January 15. UNW will welcome Morris to the Ericksen Center for a 7:15 p.m. tipoff.

Follow UNW women's basketball online this season at www.unweagles.com or on Twitter and Instagram at @unwwbb.