ST. PAUL, Minn. – After a long layoff from regular season play, the University of Northwestern Women's Basketball team returned to action inside the Ericksen Center Tuesday night, squaring off with MIAC opponent Carleton College. Not only did Northwestern even its record up at 2-2 on the season via a 56-42 win, but it was also a history combo for senior
Lexi Hagen (Jordan, Minn./Jordan). The 2023 UMAC Player of the Year collected her 500
th career rebound and scored her 1,000
th career point in the game, putting up a double-double in the process.
The Eagles got out to an early lead, as
Jasmine Sondrol (Grand Forks, N.D./Red River),
Grace Landvik (Roseville, Minn./Concordia Academy) and Hagen all scored to put their team ahead, 6-0. A barrage of three-pointers closed out the first quarter for UNW, as Hagen and
Lexi Garcia (Colorado Springs, Colo./Vanguard) each hit one and
Reese Sellers (Yuma, Ariz./Yuma Catholic) buried two. After 10 minutes, Northwestern was in total control, holding a 21-8 advantage. UNW kept the momentum going into the second period, as Sondrol scored the first bucket to push the lead to 15. Despite four points from
Ella Falk (Jamestown, N.D./Jamestown) in the quarter, Carleton was able to close the gap a bit, and trailed 27-20 at halftime.
The Knights were able to pull within five before Sondrol took over. The senior forward went on a solo, 6-0 run to make it 33-22 in favor of Northwestern. In that stretch, Hagen picked up her fifth rebound of the night, which doubled as the 500
th of her career. The senior scored seven more points in the quarter, while Falk and
Taylor Christenson (Maple Grove, Minn./Heritage Christian Academy) each scored two, to give the Eagles a 44-35 advantage entering the final period.
Hagen continued to shine, scoring five quick points in the fourth quarter, including a pull-up jumper 93 seconds into the period to reach the 1,000-point mark. Falk and Christenson each scored again to put the game out of reach, and
Ryann Eddy (Northfield, Minn./Northfield) put the finishing touches on the win with a last-minute jumper. UNW held Carleton to just seven points in the fourth quarter and took a 56-42 win into the holiday break.
Hagen's big night included 17 points and 11 rebounds. She is just the 19
th Eagle to reach the 1,000-point mark and the 17
th to grab 500 rebounds. Sondrol added 10 points and Falk eight, to go along with eight boards. Landvik and Sellers each pulled down five rebounds and dished out four and three assists, respectively. Christenson finished with four steals three assists, and Landvik tallied three steals.
After another long layoff, the Eagles will be back at home against Maranatha Baptist on Saturday, December 7
th. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 PM as part of a women's/men's doubleheader in the Ericksen Center.
