MANKATO, Minn. – A scorching-hot University of Northwestern Women's Basketball team entered Wednesday's UMAC opener at Bethany Lutheran on a three-game winning streak, and winner of five of its last six contests. But BLC proved why it is among the favorites in the conference this season, using its size advantage to pull away from a tight game through 20 minutes and win by a 67-48 score.
Lydia Schmitter (Eagan, Minn./United Christian Academy) scored on the game's opening possession, but it was the last time the Eagles would hold a lead. Bethany opened up a 15-6 advantage until
Ella Frazier (Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi) stopped the run with a layup. Consecutive baskets from veterans
Brenna Vogel (New Prague, Minn./South Metro) and
Karley Loven (Swanville, Minn./Swanville) got Northwestern within five with under a minute remaining in the period, but the Vikings closed it out with a 19-12 edge.
Bethany Lutheran's lead reached double digits for the first time, two minutes into the second quarter, but an old-fashioned three-point play from Schmitter and a slick post move from
Carli Elrod (Lindstrom, Minn./Spectrum) quickly brought UNW within five at 24-19. Another brief run by BLC made it a 10-point game once again, but Frazier scored five straight to once again pull within five. Another Schmitter and-one made it a four-point game with 44 seconds before halftime, but Bethany knocked down a three on its next trip to take a 36-29 lead into the break.
Schmitter and
Marin Blom (Farmington, Minn./Farmington) each scored inside in the opening three minutes of the third quarter to keep Northwestern's deficit at five, but the Eagles would go nearly six minutes until their next point, as a 12-0 Vikings run gave them a commanding, 50-33 lead.
Olivia Heikes (Braham, Minn./Braham Area) ended the surge with a three-pointer, but Bethany Lutheran answered with one of its own and led 53-36 at quarter's end.
After only seven points in the third period, UNW's offense picked up a bit in the fourth, with the freshman duo of Schmitter and Frazier scoring. Back-to-back layups from Elrod made the score 60-46 in BLC's favor with 2:22 left in the game, but Northwestern wouldn't score again until the game's final possession when Vogel made a layup to reach the final score of 67-48.
To the surprise of few, Schmitter led the Eagles' scoring effort with 14 points on 50% shooting, adding four rebounds and two steals. Frazier scored nine points and pulled down a team-high seven boards, while Elrod did it all, finishing with six points, six steals and five rebounds. Vogel and Blom also scored six points apiece and added three and two steals, respectively, while
Emma Korinek (New Brighton, Minn./Concordia Academy) chipped in three steals herself, helping UNW win the turnover battle, 18-11. Despite the turnover success, Northwestern shot just 14.3% from three and was out-rebounded, 47-27.
The Eagles will be back in the Twin Cities on Saturday when they pay a visit to North Central for a 1:00 PM showdown.
