With the loss, Northwestern slipped to 0-1 on the year, while the Rams began their 2006-2007 campaign with a perfect record still in tact at 1-0 overall. The Eagles will next battle Judson College (Ill.) in the consolation game of the 2006 Coca-Cola Tournament at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 18th, at home in the Ericksen Center. Prior to their setback against North Central, Northwestern had won 12 of their last 13 season-opening games dating back to the 1993-1994 season.
In a low-scoring first half, Northwestern lead 11-to-10 with 12:34 remaining in the opening period. North Central then strung together a 17-to-10 run over the next 9 minutes to open up a 28-to-20 advantage with just over 3 minutes remaining in the first half. The Eagles modestly cut into their deficit and trailed 28-to-23 at the midway point. Northwestern shot just 25.8 percent (8-of-31) from the floor in the period.
Holding to their lead, the Rams continued to own the upper-hand in the second half, still in front by 8 points at 40-to-32 with 11:41 left in the game. Northwestern finally began to turn things around late in the half as they recorded a 10-0 run covering the next 6 minutes and took over the lead in a 42-to-40 score with just over 5 minutes remaining. The Eagles appeared as though they would escape with a win, leading 45-to-42 and again 47-to-44 with 1:09 left on the clock. However, North Central netted two free throws and what would prove to be the game-winning field goal by freshman guard Keelie Solomon (Havre, Mont.) in the final minute as the Rams put an end to their 37-game losing skid against Northwestern in posting a 49-47 triumph.
Cold shooting plagued the Eagles the entire night as Northwestern finished making just 18-of-68 (26.5%) from the floor and 9-of-32 (28.1%) from three-point range. Despite being out-rebounded in a 60-to-45 margin, the Eagles were not hurt in second chance points, though North Central also helped Northwestern’s cause as the Rams were successful on only 8-of-24 (33.3%) attempts from the charity stripe.
Senior Jen Adamson (Fargo, N.D./Oak Grove) and junior Kelly Sir (Cresco, Iowa/Crestwood) highlighted the Northwestern box score with 13 points and 12 points respectively. Adamson also pulled down 10 rebounds to post a double-double in her first game back after missing the 2005-2006 season. Sir aided with 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Senior guard Aimee Lind (Rib Lake, Wis.) chipped in 9 points for the Eagles, while fellow senior guard Julie Ross (New Hope, Minn.) owned 2 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists.
For North Central, sophomore post player Naomi Sanon (East Boston, Mass.) boasted 11 points and a game-high 15 rebounds, while junior forward Amy Sletten (Fergus Falls, Minn.) poured in 9 points and 10 rebounds. The Rams will move on to tangle with Mayville State University (N.D.) on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the championship tilt of the 2006 Coca-Cola Tournament.
North Central University vs Northwestern College 11/17/06 6:00 PM at St. Paul, Minn./Erickson Center At St. Paul, Minn./Erickson Center NORTH CENTRAL UNIVERSITY 49, NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE 47 NORTH CENTRAL UNIVERSITY (1-0) Sanon, Naomi 5-11 1-2 11; Sletten, Amy 4-13 1-7 9; Carr, Phebe 3-7 0-2 7; Solomon, Keelie 3-11 0-2 6; Matson, Emily 3-6 0-0 6; Koopman, Stephanie 0-3 5-9 5; Matson, Amanda 2-7 0-0 4; Wenstrom, Robyn 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 20-58 8-24 49. NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE (0-1) Adamson, Jen 5-16 2-3 13; Sir, Kelly 4-9 0-0 12; Lind, Aimee 4-13 0-0 9; Tuseth, Katie 2-9 0-0 5; Doyle, Nikki 1-1 0-0 3; Nelson, Marcy 1-5 0-0 3; Ross, Julie 1-10 0-0 2; Baker, Shelby 0-2 0-0 0; Toews, Luanne 0-3 0-0 0; Liesch, Ariel 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-68 2-3 47. North Central University...... 28 21 - 49 Northwestern College.......... 23 24 - 47 3-point goals-North Central University 1-11 (Carr, Phebe 1-1; Sletten, Amy 0-1; Solomon, Keelie 0-4; Koopman, Stephanie 0-3; Matson, Amanda 0-2), Northwestern College 9-32 (Sir, Kelly 4-7; Nelson, Marcy 1-5; Adamson, Jen 1-6; Tuseth, Katie 1-5; Lind, Aimee 1-5; Doyle, Nikki 1-1; Toews, Luanne 0-3). Fouled out--North Central University-None, Northwestern College-None. Rebounds-North Central University 60 (Sanon, Naomi 15), Northwestern College 45 (Adamson, Jen 10). Assists-North Central University 10 (Koopman, Stephanie 5), Northwestern College 17 (Ross, Julie 7). Total fouls-North Central University 12, Northwestern College 19. This is the second women's game of the 2006 Northwestern College Coca-Cola Classic Basketball Tournament. North Central moves on to the championship game on Saturday at 5 p.m. Northwestern will play in the consolation game at 1 p.m. on Saturday.