MANKATO, Minn. – University of Northwestern Women's Basketball traveled to Bethany Lutheran College on Friday afternoon for the first of the final two games of the regular season this weekend. The Eagles, who locked up the UMAC Regular Season Championship last weekend, defeated the Vikings in a 69-51 victory.
 
UNW took a 15-11 lead in the first quarter, shooting 35.3 percent from the field. Northwestern's shooting improved in the second quarter to 44.4 percent to power their way to an 18-9 frame, taking a 13-point lead into halftime up 33-20.
 
The Vikings cut into the Eagles' lead in the third quarter, outscoring UNW 19-15 to bring their deficit down to nine points with Northwestern still leading 48-39 heading into the final quarter.  The Eagles had their highest-scoring quarter of the game in the fourth, scoring 21 while holding BLC to 12 en route to a 69-51 win.
 
Northwestern shot 43.3 percent (29-for-67) in the game with a 24.0 percent (6-for-25) clip from long range. Bethany Lutheran went 39.2 percent (20-for-51) from the field and 38.5 percent (5-for-13) from beyond the arc.
 
Second chance points were big for UNW as they outscored BLC in that category 22-to-9. Northwestern also had the advantage in points in the paint (42-to-24), points off of turnovers (27-to-15), and fast break points (8-to-3).
 
Megan McGeough (Greeley, Colo./Dayspring Christian Academy) led UNW with 18 points off the bench and had eight rebounds off the board. Lexi Hagen (Jordan, Minn./Jordan) recorded a double-double, scoring 15 points and hauling in 10 rebounds. Livvy Grosz (New Brighton, Minn./St. Anthony) had eight points and a team-high four assists in the game.
 
Up next, Northwestern will take on the Martin Luther College Knights on the road at 4:45 P.M. on Saturday, February 18 for their regular-season finale.
 
UNW will host a UMAC Tournament Semifinal game in the Ericksen Center next Wednesday, February 22. The time and opponent will be determined after Saturday's results in the conference.