Saint Paul, MN - The Northland College Lumberjills fell to the University of Northwestern Eagles, 95-65 on Wednesday night in St. Paul, MN.   The Eagles won the tip and quickly went up by 5, scoring on a backdoor layup and a 3-pointer.  Sophomore Aja Gregg got the Jills on the board with a nice up and under move inside.  Fouls began to mount for the Jills and the Eagles their hit their shots at the charity stripe as they extended the lead to 9-2 before Sophomore Lindsay Bressette split a pair from the free throw line.  Despite the early fouls, the Jills roared back offensively behind points from Freshmen Bailey Wynn, Ashley Lopez and Sarah Dunbar to bring the Jills within 2, 13-11.  The Eagles responded with a 3-pointer, but Wynn quickly matched that 3-point shot.  On the next few possessions, the Eagles took back offensive control and went up 21-14.  Gregg was fouled and split a pair of free throws bring the Jills within 7, 21-15.  The Eagles misfired on their final possession of the half and a baseline jumper from NC Freshman Miranda Wagner rimmed out.  UNW led 21-15 after the first quarter.

The second quarter started with an Eagle layup inside, but the Jills responded with a 3-pointer from Wynn at the top of the key.  The Eagles quickly matched that 3-point shot, but a Bressette layup on the next NC possession brought the Jills within 6, 26-20.  UNW went to the line after a Wynn foul and the Eagles hit both shots to extend the lead to 8.  The Jills couldn't score on their next possession, and at the 6:12 mark in the second quarter, Wagner picked up her third foul.  When the Jills were forced to sub, their momentum stalled and UNW went on a run.  Despite another 3-pointer from Wynn on the next NC possession, the Jills were stuck at 23 points for quite a long stretch.  The Eagles took advantage of the NC foul trouble and offensive struggles and jumped ahead 43-23.  Bressette finally got NC on the board again with a layup, but the Eagle's offensive continued to roll and the ended the half up 49-29.

The Jills came out fighting in the second half and really turned up their defensive intensity.  Despite being outscored in the first and second quarters, the Jills outscored the Eagles in the third quarter 23-21.  Slow first halves have been customary for NC this season and with the lead the Eagles had already built, it was hard for the Jills to cut into the UNW lead.   The size and depth of the Eagles wore down the Jills and NC finished the third quarter down 70-52.  The fourth quarter saw the Eagles continue to roll as the Jills faced foul trouble and fatigue.  UNW rolled to a 95-65 victory.

Bressette led the Jills with 16 points and Wynn chipped in 15 points for NC.  Kelsea Lund led the Eagles with 14 points.

NC is on the road on Saturday, January 11th as they travel to Mankato, MN to face conference powerhouse Bethany Lutheran College.