ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Just 19 hours after its season-opening win over St. Olaf, the University of Northwestern Women's Basketball team was back at it for day two of the Saint Benedict Tip-Off Tournament. In a much different type of game compared to Friday night's defensive battle with St. Olaf, the Eagles came up short in a 79-70 high-scoring showdown with the hosts of the tournament, College of Saint Benedict.
Much like Friday night, the Eagles were hot out of the gates. Five different Eagles scored in the opening frame to give Northwestern a 24-16 lead.
Grace Landvik (Roseville, Minn./Concordia Academy) had six points, but it was the
Rylie Hirschey (Pine River, Minn./Pine River Backus) show in the first quarter for UNW. The junior knocked down four three-pointers in four attempts to spark the Eagles' offense.
Landvik continued her strong play in the second quarter, scoring eight points as Northwestern's lead grew to 10 with three minutes before the half. However, the Bennies responded with a 10-0 run to close the half and the teams went into the intermission tied at 39.
Lexi Hagen (Jordan, Minn./Jordan) and
Taylor Schuck (Maple Grove, Minn./Heritage Christian Academy) scored back-to-back buckets early in the third to give Northwestern a brief 43-41 lead, but Saint Benedict seized momentum right back via a 13-0 run. A Hagen layup followed by an
Andrea Pocernich (Cromwell, Minn./Cromwell-Wright) three got the Eagles within six, but the Bennies hit back-to-back threes to extend their lead to 12.
Allison Terry (Blaine, Minn./Blaine) closed out the quarter well for UNW, scoring five points in Northwestern's final two possessions, but Saint Ben's held a nine-point advantage heading into the final period.
The Bennies built as much as a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter, despite six points in the quarter from Hagen and four each from
Jasmine Sondrol (Grand Forks, N.D./Red River) and
River Landers (Grand Meadow, Minn./Grand Meadow). Landvik and Hagen scored the final four points of the game, but the Eagles ran out of time in their comeback effort as the final score read 79-70.
Landvik paced the Eagles' offense with 16 points, six rebounds and three assists, making an impact in every aspect of the offense. Hagen was incredible herself, posting a 15-point, 13-rebound double-double. Six of her 13 boards were on the offensive side. Hirschey finished with 12 points, while Terry added seven and three assists.
Livvy Grosz (New Brighton, Minn./St. Anthony) and Landers pulled down seven and five rebounds, respectively.
The Eagles leave St. Joseph with a 1-1 record and two highly-competitive games versus MIAC opponents. Northwestern will take to the road once again on Tuesday, November 14
th when they travel to Buena Vista University. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 PM.
