GARY, Ind. -- The Indiana University Northwest Women's Basketball Team tried to rally in second half to come from behind but visiting Cornerstone was able to hold off the RedHawks for the 69-66 victory Saturday.

The Golden Eagles (1-0) defeated the RedHawks (0-1), 69-66, at the Savannah Center in the IU Northwest Women's Basketball Home Opener Saturday.

IU NORTHWEST STATS LEADERS
Points:  Sarah Martin (25)
Rebounds: Samantha Martin, Breanna Boles (6)
Assists: Meghan Long (4)
Blocks: Lauren Smolen, Breanna Boles (1)
Steals: Sarah Martin (3)

QUARTER BREAKDOWN
FIRST QUARTER (Cornerstone 26, IUN 17)

• IUN led 5-2 in the early stages of the game after Lauren Smolen converted on a huge and-one play in the opening minutes of the contest.
• Cornerstone responded soon after with a 9-2 run in the next two minutes to go up 11-7. 
• Sarah Martin was able to end the RedHawks drought with the next bucket.
• The Golden Eagles had the answer the rest of the quarter after going ahesd 16-15 with 3:48 left, Cornerstone went on a 10-2 spurt to conclude the first period.

SECOND QUARTER (IUN 20, Cornerstone 18)

• Cornerstone carried their momentum into the second quarter as the Golden Eagles scored back-to-back buckets for a 13-point lead, which was their biggest of the game.
• IU Northwest was able to respond with a run of their own, scoring 12 in a row to get within one point capped off by a basket by Alexis Vieck.
• The Golden Eagles had the upper hand the rest of the quarter but IUN tried to make it close but the closest the RedHawks got was one as Cornerstone went up by seven at half (44-37). 

THIRD QUARTER (IUN 19, Cornerstone 14)

• The RedHawks made it a two-point deficit (47-45) with 6:50 to go in the quarter after Martin knocked down a pair of free throws.
• Later in the period, Martin made it a one-point game (53-52 Cornerstone) again which capped off an IUN run in the third quarter.
• Cornerstone once again had the answer as the Golden Eagles knocked one down from three-point land to make it a four-point lead again (56-52) with 2:29 left.
• Lauren Smolen nailed a pair of free throws with 29 seconds left in the third period to make it a 58-56 Cornerstone lead after three quarters.

FOURTH QUARTER (Cornerstone 11, IUN 10)

• Both teams had slow starts to the final period but Jessy Siems was able to put the RedHawks on top (61-58) with five straight pointers as the senior hit a three-pointer and nailed a jumper.
• Martin gave the RedHawks their biggest lead of the game which was four (64-60) with 5:18 left in the game.
• Cornerstone and IU Northwest went on a drought for two minutes before the Golden Eagles cut it to two with three minutes to play.
• Martin ended the RedHawks drought and made it a four-point game again, unfortunately that was the last basket for IU Northwest.
• The Golden Eagles scored the last seven points in the final two minutes of the contest and won 69-66.

FINAL SCORE (Cornerstone 26-18-14-11-69; IUN 17-20-19-10-66)

UP NEXT
IU Northwest Women's Basketball will be back in action Friday, October 30, as the RedHawks take on Emmaus Bible College starting at 3 p.m. CT.