ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris women's basketball went to halftime with a lead but couldn't keep it up in the second half on Thursday night, falling to the University of Northwestern, 70-57. The Cougars drop to 1-2 (1-2 UMAC) on the year, while the Eagles up their record to 9-4 (3-1 UMAC). 

In a cold-shooting first quarter for both teams, Northwestern got to the line for the first five points of the game and eventually took an 8-2 lead on Minnesota Morris before the Cougars rallied to slice Northwestern's lead to three after 10 minutes of play. Haley Wollschlager and Lexus Eagle Chasing each hit three-pointers in the opening frame to make it 15-12 after one.

A 6-0 run by UMN Morris early in the second quarter gave the team its first lead at 18-17 after a jumper from Eagle Chasing. With the score knotted at 26-26, Eagle Chasing drained another three to give the Cougars a 29-26 lead at the break.

Minnesota Morris fended off Northwestern's challenge for much of the third quarter, but after a layup from Malory Anderson put the Cougars ahead, 38-37, with three minutes left in the period, the Eagles closed on a 12-5 run to take a 49-43 lead into the final quarter.

Following a layup from Jay Kwateh at the 7:23 mark of the fourth, the game was 55-48 and still within reach. A sudden 8-0 run from Northwestern in just over a minute of play extended its edge out to 63-48. UMN Morris couldn't get closer than 11 points the rest of the way.

Eagle Chasing led the Cougars on the night with 19 points. Jadyn Sondrol was the other player in double-figures for Minnesota Morris, finishing with 10. Anderson was the leading rebounder on the night, coming off the bench to contribute eight points and nine boards.

Due to some schedule changes, the Cougars will now travel to play a non-conference game at the College of St. Scholastica on Saturday at 3 p.m.