ASHLAND, Wis. – The University of Northwestern women's basketball team traveled across the state border to take on the Lumberjills of Northland College on Friday night. The Eagles found themselves in the driver's seat the entire game as they took the contest 83-36, improving their record to 15-5 (10-1 UMAC), which puts their winning streak at nine games. In the win,
Megan Roberts (Greeley, Colo./Dayspring Christian Academy) became the 18th Eagle women's basketball player to eclipse 1,000 career points.
A dime from
Kelsea Lund (Madison, Minn./Lac qui Parle Valley) to Roberts resulted in an easy layup to start the scoring. Immediately as the Lumberjills inbounded the ball,
Allison Eide (Farmington, Minn./Christian Life Academy) stripped the ball away and put away an and-1 to give Northwestern a quick five point lead to start the game. Northwestern's great defense not only forced NCU into awkward possessions, but it also gave UNW the chance to capitalize, as they scored 11 points off turnovers. The Eagles gathered themselves a comfortable 21-2 lead at the end of the first.
UNW continued to attack the rim as they laid the ball into the basket in their first two shot attempts of the second quarter. Northwestern's hot hand continued throughout the rest of the quarter as they took a 43-17 lead into halftime.
The Eagles shot a fiery 47.1 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from the three-point line, while also hitting 77.8 percent of their free throws. Their defensive presence was felt throughout the half as they forced 16 turnovers. The UNW bench also got it rolling, scoring 17 of the 43 points for the team.
In the third quarter, more UNW history was made as Roberts drained a corner three to hit her 1,000th point of her career, becoming the 18th Eagle to do so, and second one to do it this season, the other being Lund. Northwestern found a renewed fire from beyond the arc after that as they drained 10 threes in the second half. UNW closed out the game winning 83-36.
The Eagles matched a team season high by hitting 14 threes in the game. Overall, they shot 44.8 percent while hitting 45.2 percent of their threes. They forced the Lumberjills to turn the ball over 24 times, resulting in 28 points. UNW's bench knocked down 44 points.
Leading the team in scoring for Northwestern was
Lexi Hagen (Jordan, Minn./Jordan) with 14 points. Roberts finished the contest with a double-double, scoring 13 points and bringing down a team-high 12 rebounds in just 19 minutes.
Jasmine Sondrol (Grand Forks, N.D./Red River) was third in the scoring category as she found herself 10 points as well. Defensively,
Hailey Paup (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Concordia Academy) swatted away two shots while Hagen snatched away four steals for UNW.
The Eagles are right back at it tomorrow as they stay in Wisconsin to take on the University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets at 3:00 p.m. For all things UNW women's basketball, visit www.unweagles.com or follow them on social media @unwwbb.
