SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Yellowjacket women's basketball team hit the road Friday to continue Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) action, facing off against Northwestern. After outscoring the Eagles 28-15 in the third quarter, along with four players finishing the contest in double figures, the 'Jackets were able to pick up a 73-65 victory inside the Ericksen Center.
The momentum was with the Yellowjackets right away, scoring the first five points of the contest courtesy of a layup from
Elise Besonen (Ewen, Mich./Ewen-Trout Creek) and a three pointer from
MyKenzie Leccia (Somerset, Wis./Somerset). Both
Charlotte Ferstl (Plain, Wis./River Valley) and
Katie Dobson (Black River Falls, Wis./Black River Falls) notched their first points from inside the arc, which led to another Besonen layup to give the Yellowjackets a 12-5 lead.
The Eagles countered, as Lexi Hagen took a feed from Allison Terry and secured a three. Those two found their groove as they traded points and assists before River Landers would finish a layup inside the paint, ultimately leading to the Eagles heading into the second quarter with a four-point edge at 16-12.
Erika Mattson (Ely, Minn./Ely Memorial) drew a foul from Northwestern's Ella Falk at the beginning of the second, as she tallied her first point of the contest. The Eagles began to extend their lead to as much as seven before
Hannah Hause (Stanley, Wis./Stanley-Boyd) dished a pass to Besonen for a shot from downtown. Hause would make a free throw after taking a foul and Mattson would make a layup, but the Eagles began to find their groove offensively, ending the second quarter with a 32-26 lead.
Quarter number three commenced with Leccia nailing a shot beyond the arc after taking a feed from Mattson, along with a layup from Ferstl, to bring the 'Jackets within three. Northwestern's Taylor Schuck turned the ball over and fouled Besonen, but she converted on the three-point-play and brought the game to 34-34.
Leccia, Ferstl and Besonen contributed most of the offense and helped boost the 'Jackets ahead 43-39, but they didn't stop there. Ferstl nailed a pair of layups and Besonen hit another trey, but the Eagles came within three before Mattson hit a three pointer and converted on a three-point-play, keeping the Yellowjackets ahead of the Eagles at 54-47.
Momentum swayed at the start of the fourth, as Northwestern rallied to regain the lead at 56-54. Mattson hit yet another three before Ferstl took a layup to regain the lead, and from there the 'Jackets never surrendered the advantage and stepped on the gas pedal. Dobson and Hause both made layups, which was followed by Dobson hitting both free throw attempts after taking a foul. Mattson, Besonen and Leccia each would take fouls to end the game, boosting their lead to eight and ending the game with a 73-65 victory inside the Ericksen Center.
Four Yellowjackets ended in double figures, as Besonen scored 20 points along with three rebounds and two steals. Mattson was responsible for 17 points and five rebounds, while Leccia and Ferstl contributed 15 and 10 points, respectively.
The Yellowjackets continue their Twin Cities trip Saturday with a contest against North Central. The opening tipoff inside Clark-Danielson Gymnasium is scheduled for 3 p.m.
