ST. PETER, Minn. – Coming off a heartbreaking loss Wednesday night in Wisconsin, the road didn't get much easier on Saturday for the University of Northwestern Women's Basketball team. The Eagles traveled south to take on No. 7 Gustavus Adolphus College in a non-conference tilt. Northwestern kept it tight for most of the first quarter, but the nationally-ranked Gusties proved to be too much, pulling away for a 74-50 win.
After falling behind 4-0,
Lexi Hagen (Jordan, Minn./Jordan) got UNW on the board with a jump shot.
Jasmine Sondrol (Grand Forks, N.D./Red River) made a layup and
Ella Falk (Jamestown, N.D./Jamestown) a three-pointer to keep it close at 11-7, then
Taylor Christenson (Maple Grove, Minn./Heritage Christian Academy) knocked down a pair of free throws to pull within two at 11-9. Unfortunately for
Aaron Kahl's squad, the hosts went on a 13-0 to close out the quarter and lead, 24-9.
Gustavus kept momentum as the second quarter began, extending the lead to 28-9 before Hagen converted a three-point play. The Gusties scored the next 11 points before Hagen and Sondrol combined for a 4-0 run. The pair went on to add an additional three and two points in the quarter, respectively, as GAC held a 51-21 advantage at the half.
The second half was much more friendly to the Eagles. Hagen scored four points, Sondrol and Christenson each two, and
Lexi Garcia (Colorado Springs, Colo./Vanguard) drilled a three in the third quarter as Northwestern kept pace with Gustavus, who led 66-34 entering the final period. The fourth quarter was all UNW, as Hagen hit another three for Northwestern's first points.
Grace Landvik (Roseville, Minn./Concordia Academy) scored four straight Eagle points and Christenson added two more herself. Five points by
Reese Sellers (Yuma, Ariz./Yuma Catholic) and a layup from
Ella Falk (Jamestown, N.D./Jamestown) gave UNW a 7-0 run late in the game, but they would fall, 74-50. Northwestern out-scored GAC 16-8 in the fourth quarter and 29-23 in the second half.
Hagen led all scorers in the game with 17 and was an efficient 6-9 shooting, in addition to pulling down four rebounds. Sondrol added eight points, five boards, two assists and two blocks, while Christenson followed with six points and three assists. Falk added four rebounds and Sellers two assists.
UNW will travel to Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin next weekend to partake in the Titan Holiday Classic. The Eagles will take on Concordia Chicago on Friday at 5:00 PM and No. 6 UW-Oshkosh on Saturday at 2:00 PM.
