ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn. – The University of Northwestern women's basketball team traveled to St. Bonifacius to take on the Storm of Crown College on Wednesday night. UNW had a big fourth quarter to take the game 70-56, improving their overall record to 10-5 and their UMAC record to 5-1.
 
In the early first quarter, after every bucket that the Storm scored Northwestern would immediately drive it down the court to find one of their own. It would not be until five minutes in when the Eagles would find their first lead of the game as Kelsea Lund (Madison, Minn./Lac qui Parle Valley) drained a wide open three thanks to a Megan Roberts (Greeley, Colo./Dayspring Christian Academy) pass to set her up. Both teams would exchange baskets but early foul trouble for the Storm gave Northwestern opportunities at the free throw line. They would sink all four attempts to take a 15-11 lead after the first quarter. Someone must've called a swat unit to the Crown game as UNW came away from the quarter with three blocks, including two from Ashlyn Jones (New London, Minn./New London - Spicer). 
 
It was a hot second quarter for the Storm as they caused UNW to turn the ball over multiple times. Due to the stoic defense of Crown, Northwestern was not able to get it going, causing them to fall behind 28-22 at the half. The Eagles won the rebound battle 22-17 and continued to stay hot on the free-throw line, shooting 6-for-6 for the half.
 
Crown would extend their lead to nine points in the first two and a half minutes of the third quarter. Northwestern responded with a 7-0 run in the next minute to cut their deficit back down to two points. However the Storm would once again build their lead out, this time to 10 points with a little less than three minutes in the quarter. The Eagles were able to go on a small 5-0 run to cut the lead in half entering the final quarter trailing 44-39.
 
Both teams exchanged buckets back and forth to start the fourth quarter, however with a little more than six minutes remaining in the quarter, Crown found themselves ahead by five points. But then, after a Taylor Shuck three pointer, the Eagles turned on the burners, going on a 17-0 run to take a 63-51 lead with less than a minute left in the game. They would hold off the Storm to take home the victory 70-56. 
 
Northwestern shot 50 percent from the field in the second half, salvaging their shooting percentage from the first half. Overall the Eagles shot 37.3 percent from the field while hitting 86.4 percent of their free throws. UNW once again dominated on the boards as they outrebounded the Storm 40-27, including 14 offensive rebounds. Another big point for Northwestern was their defense as they finished the game with 11 steals and five blocks.
 
Roberts had a season high 23 points in tonight's contest while completing a double-double with 14 rebounds. Lund had the second most points with 18 while leading the team in assists with six in the game. Hailey Paup (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Concordia Academy) was all over the floor as she finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, and a team leading three steals.
 
Northwestern will be back home in the Ericksen Center to host the Rams of North Central University. That game will be played on Saturday, January 29 at 3:00 p.m. and make sure to wear your gold attire for the UNW Nation Gold Out. Fans that show up before halftime of the women's game and stay through halftime of the following men's game will recieve a free UNW Nation winter hat.

For all things UNW women's basketball, visit www.unweagles.com or follow them on social media @unwwbb.