News Release

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Following a made three-point field goal by senior guard Aimee Lind (Rib Lake, Wis.) with 3:31 remaining, the Northwestern College (Minn.) women’s basketball team moved in front 41-40 over Viterbo University (Wis.) on Tuesday night. Unfortunately, that would be the last points scored by the Eagles as the host V-Hawks rattled off 10 answered points to finish the game, claiming a 50-41 victory over Northwestern. With the loss, the Eagles stumbled to 0-7 overall on the year, while Viterbo improved to 2-7 in 2006-2007, snapping a five-game losing skid.

Northwestern held Viterbo to just four made field goals in the first half as the Eagles held the V-Hawks to 18.2 percent shooting from the field in the first twenty minutes of play. Already owning a 19-16 advantage at the half, Northwestern opened the second half with a 10-4 run to take its largest lead of the game at 29-20. Viterbo responded with a run of their own led by freshman Joni Stanek (Kendal, Wis.). Stanek scored nine points during the V-Hawks’ 15-5 run as Viterbo took its first lead of the game at 39-38 with 4:08 left in the non-conference affair.

The first half featured cold shooting on both sides of the ball as both teams combined for 11 of 46 shooting from the floor. Kari Thiel (La Crosse, Wis.) opened the scoring for Viterbo with a three point field goal, but the Eagle defense would only allow two points over the next ten minutes. Northwestern would take a 19-12 lead on a jumper by Nikki Doyle (Minooka, Ill.) with 3:45 remaining in the opening half. Viterbo closed the period with a 6-0 run to trail 19-16 at the break.

After shooting 4-22 in the first half, Viterbo shot 12-for-27 in the second half to finish shooting 32.7 percent from the floor. Northwestern finished 16-for-46 from the floor, including 4-for-17 from behind the three point line. Viterbo had the edge in rebounding as they out rebounded the Eagles 38-28. The V-Hawks also had an advantage from the charity stripe as they finished 17-for-24 while Northwestern shot 5-for-6.

Aimee Lind contributed a team-high 12 points for Northwestern, representing the only Eagle player to reach double-figures for scoring. Lind hit 5-of-10 from the floor and 2-of-5 from long range. Julie Ross (New Hope, Minn./Cooper High School) added 8 points and a game-high as well as season-high 11 rebounds. Katie Tuseth (White Bear Lake, Minn.) tallied 8 points and tied her career-high with 4 steals on the night. Thiel and Stanek paced Viterbo in scoring with both reaching double figures, each owning 12 points while Leah Olson (Independence, Wis.) chipped in 10 points. Stanek and Katie Mechling (Holmen, Wis.) each had a team high eight rebounds to highlight the V-Hawks on the boards.

Northwestern College will return home and open Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) action on Saturday, December 9, hosting Crown College (Minn.) at 3 p.m. in the Ericksen Center.

Northwestern College, MN vs Viterbo University, WI
12/05/06 6:00 pm at R.W. Beggs Sr. Gymnasium
At R.W. Beggs Sr. Gymnasium
VITERBO UNIVERSITY, WI 50, NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE, MN 41
NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE, MN (0-7)
Lind, Aimee 5-10 0-0 12; Tuseth, Katie 2-5 3-4 8; Ross, Julie 3-7 2-2 8;
Adamson, Jen 3-10 0-0 7; Doyle, Nikki 2-4 0-0 4; Hendrickson, Kayla 1-2 0-0
2; Baker, Shelby 0-1 0-0 0; Nelson, Marcy 0-5 0-0 0; Kendrick, Kaelee 0-0
0-0 0; Toews, Luanne 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 16-46 5-6 41.
VITERBO UNIVERSITY, WI (2-7)
Thiel, Kari 3-6 5-7 12; Stanek, Joni 5-9 2-3 12; Olson, Leah 2-6 6-8 10;
Mechling, Katie 2-7 2-2 6; Hayes, Raelyn 1-4 2-2 4; Boulanger, Melissa 1-3
0-0 2; Stumbris, Kerra 1-6 0-0 2; Mandylaris, Katina 1-5 0-2 2; Berger,
Audrah 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 16-49 17-24 50.
Northwestern College, MN......   19   22  -   41
Viterbo University, WI........   16   34  -   50
3-point goals-Northwestern College, MN 4-17 (Lind, Aimee 2-5; Tuseth, Katie
1-2; Adamson, Jen 1-3; Nelson, Marcy 0-3; Toews, Luanne 0-2; Doyle, Nikki
0-2), Viterbo University, WI 1-13 (Thiel, Kari 1-3; Olson, Leah 0-3;
Mechling, Katie 0-2; Boulanger, Melissa 0-1; Stumbris, Kerra 0-2; Berger,
Audrah 0-2). Fouled out--Northwestern College, MN-None, Viterbo University,
WI-None. Rebounds-Northwestern College, MN 28 (Ross, Julie 11), Viterbo
University, WI 38 (Mechling, Katie 8; Stanek, Joni 8). Assists-Northwestern
College, MN 5 (Ross, Julie 2), Viterbo University, WI 3 (Olson, Leah 1;
Boulanger, Melissa 1; Hayes, Raelyn 1). Total fouls-Northwestern College, MN
24, Viterbo University, WI 11. A-183
Trailing 33-24, VU goes on a 15-5 run to take its first lead of the game with
4:08 to play. After a 3 ptr., by Lind, Vu scores final 11 points to win 50-41.
NWC held VU to just four field goals in first half as they built a 19-16 lead
at intermission.