Gary, Ind. -- The Indiana University Northwest women's basketball team was able to pull off their first Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory Saturday with a 51-50 victory at the Savannah Center.

IUN started the game on a 7-1 run after a three-pointer by Sarah Martin (DeMotte, Ind./Kankakee Valley). Cardinal Stritch made their own run as the Wolves closed out the opening period on a 7-3 run to pull within two.

Lauren Smolen (Crown Point, Ind./Lake Central) opened up the scoring in the second quarter to make it 12-8 IUN. The Wolves would then score five unanswered to take a 13-12 lead.

With the score tied 15-15 at the 3:50 left in the first half, Cardinal Stritch scored the next four points to grab the lead and never gave it up before the break. The RedHawks kept it close heading into the break after Smolen hit a jumper and Michaela Schmidt (Highland, Ind./Highland) hit a three-pointer to make it 21-20 Stritch going to halftime.

Smolen opened up the scoring again for IUN this time to start the second half to give the RedHawks an early lead. Both teams traded lead changes and ties before Schmidt committed on a huge three-point play at the end of the third period to give IUN a 35-33 advantage going into the fourth.

The score would go back and forth in the early stages of the quarter before IUN went on a 9-0 run to make it 49-40 which was capped off by a Martin three-pointer. Cardinal Stritch would not give up but IUN never gave up the lead.

The Wolves made their own 8-0 spurt to pull within one with 1:39 left in the game. The RedHawks had a huge basket by Breanna Boles (Lapel, Ind.) with 48 ticks left then Stritch responded with a basket to make it 51-50 with 38 seconds remaining.

IUN was able to get a stop on defense to hold off Cardinal Stritch for the victory. The RedHawks won 51-50.

Smolen led IUN in scoring with 13 points and six rebounds. Schmidt recorded 10 points in the narrow victory. 

Boles added 10 points in the victory. Ashley O'Malley (Crown Point, Ind.) led the RedHawks on the glass as the senior recorded eight rebounds. 

IUN (3-4, 1-2 CCAC) returns to action Wednesday, November 20 as the RedHawks host Lincoln College starting at 7 p.m. CT.