ST. PAUL, Minn. - In a matchup of teams tied for second place in conference play, Minnesota Morris dropped a 79-59 decision Wednesday night at Northwestern in UMAC women's basketball action.

The game started well for the Cougars. After spotting the Eagles two points, UMM rattled off six straight. Baskets from Bailey Miller, Mauren Thiesen, and Kendra Raths the Cougars the early edge. Northwestern countered with eight straight, but the Cougars came right back with four in a row to regain the edge. Thiesen drained the first of her six 3s to put UMM up 11-10. UNW outscored the Cougars 10-4 down the stretch to take a 20-15 lead into the second quarter.

The Eagles outscored the Cougars 22-11 in the second to take a 42-26 lead at halftime.

Northwestern built a 22-point early in the third quarter. A Cougar 9-0 run helped cut the deficit to 10 at the end of the quarter, but the deficit would get no closer throughout the remainder of the contest.

Thiesen led all scorers with 25 points. Miller added 13.

Minnesota Morris (5-11, 5-3 in UMAC) next faces conference-leading UW-Superior Saturday at 5 p.m. at Jim Gremmels Court.