ST. PAUL, Minn. – University of Northwestern Women's Basketball hosted Crown College on Friday evening in the Ericksen Center for their conference opener. The Eagles soared to a 66-43 win over the Polars.
 
After playing each other to a 15-15 tie in the opening quarter, the Polars went up 24-23 in the second with 5:30 remaining in the half. The Eagles proceeded to take the lead on a Lexi Hagen (Jordan, Minn./Jordan) jumper a minute later. That jumper started a 9-0 run for UNW to close out the opening half with a 31-24 lead.
 
UNW shot 44.8 percent from the field in the opening half while Crown shot 35.8 percent.
 
In the third quarter, Northwestern followed up their 9-0 run that ended the first half with another 9-0 run to open the second half, extending their lead to 16 points up 40-24. The Eagles third-quarter lead would peak at 21 points, up 49-28. Northwestern led 49-32 at the end of the frame, heading into the final 10 minutes with a 17-point lead.
 
The Eagles opened the fourth quarter with a 10-0 run, increasing their lead to 27 points up 59-32. UNW proceeded to cruise to a 66-43 win to start their conference schedule off strong.
 
Northwestern shot 45.5 percent from the field in the game and 25.0 percent from three-point range. Crown finished with a 28.1 percent clip from the floor and a 20.0 percent average from beyond the arc.
 
Hagen led the way for UNW with a double-double, shooting 8-for-12 for 19 points and hauling in 10 rebounds. River Landers (Grand Meadow, Minn./Grand Meadow) followed with 12 points for the Eagles. Jasmine Sondrol (Grand Forks, N.D./Red River) had nine points and six rebounds in the win.
 
Up next, Northwestern will face the University of Minnesota Morris Cougars on Saturday, December 10, at 4:45 P.M. in the Ericksen Center.