Morris, MN -The Northland College Lumberjills traveled to the University of Minnesota-Morris to face the Cougars on Saturday for a UMAC conference game.  The undersized Jills gave the Cougars a tough battle, but ultimately fell 80-68.  Morris' size advantage inside was felt early as the Jills failed to box out two consecutive possessions.  The Cougars scored on the first and were fouled on the second to go up 3-0 when they split the pair of free throws.  The Jills took a few minutes to get going offensively and with 7:38to go, Freshman Sarah Dunbar was fouled and went to the free throw line.  Dunbar split the pair and got the Jills first point on the board.  The two teams traded buckets and Freshman Alex Espinoza made a tough left handed lay up to bring the score to 7-5.  On the next Jill possession, Dunbar gave Northland its first lead with a 3-pointer from the corner to put NC up 8-7.  The Cougars countered by going over the top of the fronting Jill defense for an easy two inside.  NC Freshman Miranda Wagner hit a beautiful 3-pointer in rhythm to put the Jills up again, 10-9, but Morris came back with a nice back door play to take back the lead.  Freshman Bailey Wynn hit another Jill 3-pointer to give NC a 13-10 lead, but the Cougars went on run to end the first quarter and lead 18-13.  NC also faced foul trouble with guards Ashley Lopez and Bianca Avalos each picking up two early fouls. 
 
The Jills started out the second quarter with some hot shooting.  The shot clock was winding down on their first possession and Wagner hit a 3-pointer from the wing.  Junior Sarah Houle deflected a Cougar pass to force a turnover and Wynn hit another Jill 3-pointer to put the Jills back on top, 19-18.  The Cougars took back control and went on a 7-0 run to go back ahead, 25-19 with 7:19 remaining. Despite having the Cougars in some foul trouble and getting into the bonus, the Jills couldn't hit both shots from the line while Morris began to get hot from inside and out.  The Cougars extended their lead to 40-29 going into halftime.  
 
Morris scored inside to start the third quarter, but Northland went on a 6-0 run to bring the Jills within 7, 42-35.  Dunbar and Wagner both scored on back-door layups and Aja Gregg put back a Wynn miss.  The Morris lead stayed between 8 and 11 points for most of the quarter until Wynn hit two free throws with less than 2:00 left to bring the Jills within 5, 50-45.  The Cougars took back control offensively and extending their lead up to 9 at the end of three quarters, 58-49.  
 
Wagner hit Dunbar with pass on a back door layup to start the fourth quarter, but the Cougars went to their bread and butter inside to keep their lead at nine points.  Wagner put back a Wynn miss on the next possession for the Jills but again, the Cougars matched the basket from Northland.  Morris continued to attack the Jills inside where they had the advantage and extended their lead to 72-58 with 5:46 to go.   On the next Cougar possession, Wagner was called for her fifth foul and Morris made both free throws to make it 74-58.  Northland continued to fight and chip away at the Morris lead, but the Cougars took home the win, 80-68.  
 
The Lumberjills forced 25 Cougar turnovers and dished out 16 assists.  Northland was led offensively by three freshman guards.  Wynn had 17, Dunbar scored 14 (10 in the first half) and Wagner chipped in 11.  Houle also provided a spark inside for NC with 10 points.  Mia Wassink led the Cougars with 20 points. 
 
Northland heads to Watertown, WI on Monday for a non-conference matchup against Maranatha Baptist.