ST. PAUL, Minn. – University of Northwestern Women's Basketball hosted University of Minnesota Morris on Saturday evening in the Ericksen Center for their second conference contest of the season. The Eagles started and finished the game strong as UNW won 60-53 over the Cougars to take their second UMAC game in as many days to close out the opening weekend of conference competition.
 
In the first quarter, the Eagles took a 20-8 lead over the Cougars. UNW made seven baskets on 50.0 percent shooting, scoring four from long range at a 44.4 percent clip. Livvy Grosz (New Brighton, Minn./St. Anthony) made a buzzer-beater three to increase Northwestern's lead to 12 points going into the second quarter.
 
The Cougars started to rally in the second, outscoring UNW 19-12 in the frame to cut their deficit down to just five points at halftime. Morris accomplished this by making 7-of-13 from the field and going 4-for-5 from three-point range in the quarter.
 
After halftime, the Cougars kept up their momentum and hit a three-pointer with 2:15 remaining in the third quarter to take a 42-39 lead; their first lead of the game. Morris increased their lead to four points up 45-41 with just over a minute left in the quarter, but the Eagles would tie the game 45-45 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
In the final quarter, the Eagles hit two huge three-pointers from Lexi Hagen (Jordan, Minn./Jordan) and Taylor Schuck (Maple Grove, Minn./Heritage Christian Academy) to go up 53-47 with 5:39 to go. Hagen added a pair of free-throws a couple minutes later to put Northwestern up by eight points with 3:26 left on the clock. Morris cut the Eagles' lead down to four points, trailing 55-51 with just 52 seconds to go. Northwestern, however, would go on to close out the game by avoiding turnovers, taking fouls, and making the ensuing free-throws en route to a 60-53 victory.
 
Hagen led the Eagles with 14 points, making 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. River Landers (Grand Meadow, Minn./Grand Meadow) went a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and made both free-throw attempt to put 12 on the board for UNW. Grosz and Jasmine Sondrol (Grand Forks, N.D./Red River) each had a team-high five rebounds.
 
Up next, Northwestern will host the University of Wisconsin-Stout Blue Devils on Tuesday, December 13, at 5:30 P.M. in the Ericksen Center.