Box Score ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Morris (6-9, 3-1 UMAC) could not overcome 17 point free throw difference, falling 81-74 to Northwestern (11-4, 3-1 UMAC) on Friday evening.
Kendra Wycoff tied a season high with 23 points thanks to seven three point baskets.
Emily Auch had 15 points and eight rebounds.
Kendra Wycoff was hot early as the Cougars jumped out to an 8-0 lead thanks to a pair of three pointers. She started the game 3-4 from behind the arc and Minnesota Morris led 13-7 with 16:15 left in the half. The Eagles responded, going on a 7-0 run and grabbed a one point lead. Wycoff hit her fourth three of the half to give Morris the lead back but Northwestern responded as the lead switched hands often several times through the middle portion of the first half.
The story of the first half was Minnesota Morris ability to knock down the three. Wycoff finished the first half 6-7 from three and Brook Decker added a pair of three's on back to back possessions and the Cougars continued to hold the lead. Northwestern would close to within four at the half time break.
Out of the half, UMM went on a 9-3 run to take a 51-41 lead with 16 minutes left in the game. The Eagles clawed back with a 7-0 run and cut the lead to 51-48 less than a minute later. The Eagles would end up taking the lead at 53-51 before Morris got back in the scoring column on an
Emily Auch rebound to tie the game at 53.
The game would remain tight until the Eagles got some breathing room going up 64-59 with just over seven minutes left in the game. That breathing room did not last long and Auch hit back to back three's drawing the Cougars to within one. The Eagles pushed the lead back to five and the Cougars kept hitting shots, cutting the lead to one possession on a couple occasions. Northwestern iced the game with a three pointer in the corner with just over thirty seconds left, taking a 79-72 lead.
Kayla Kraemer had 11 points and Decker finished with ten off the bench. Morris will look to rebound against North Central tomorrow at 5 p.m.
