ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Northwestern women's basketball team took on the St. Catherine University Wildcats in their home opener on Wednesday night in the Ericksen Center. UNW took down the Wildcats 70-53 to improve to 2-0 on the season.
 
While the weather outside was cold and windy, the Eagles opened the game on fire. After an early basket from St. Kate's to set the score at 2-2, Northwestern went on a 16-0 run to take a commanding 18-2 lead in the first quarter. UNW's lead would grow to 20 points when Allison Eide (Farmington, Minn./Christian Life Academy) drained a three-pointer to put the Eagles up 24-4. The Wildcats ended the first quarter strong as Sydney Elliott made back-to-back three's, but UNW still led 24-10.
 
The second quarter was less explosive for UNW, but the Eagles nonetheless increased their lead by halftime. Up by 14 entering the quarter, Northwestern increased their lead to 18 points as UNW led St. Kate's 39-21 at the half.
 
The second half saw the Wildcats find their balance and play the Eagles evenly. In the third, St. Kate's outscored the Eagles 18-17, though the Eagles still lead by 17 heading into the final quarter. The Wildcats and Eagles battled each other to a 14-14 draw in the fourth. Though SCU outscored UNW by one point the second half, the explosive first half for the Eagles allowed Northwestern to cruise to a 70-53 win.
 
Hailey Paup (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Concordia Academy) and Lexi Hagen (Jordan, Minn./Jordan) led the Eagles offense with each scoring 12 points in the win. Paup shot 63 percent from the floor on 5-for-8 shooting. Hagen splashed a pair of three's and went 4-for-5 from the charity stripe.
 
Next up for Northwestern is another home game this weekend. The Eagles will take on Simpson College at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday in the Ericksen Center.
 

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