GARY, Ind. -- The Indiana University Northwest women's basketball used a strong second-half surge as the RedHawks defeated Aquinas College at the Savannah Center, 54-40, Tuesday.

TEAM RECORDS
IU Northwest (8-3) | Aquinas (8-7) 

QUARTER BREAKDOWN
1st Quarter: Aquinas 7, IU Northwest 7
2nd Quarter: Aquinas 13, IU Northwest 10
Halftime Score: Aquinas 20, IU Northwest 17
3rd Quarter: IU Northwest 19, Aquinas 10
4th Quarter: IU Northwest 18, Aquinas 10
Final Score: IU Northwest 54, Aquinas 40

IU NORTHWEST LEADERS
Points: Sarah Martin (17), Samantha Martin (12)
Rebounds: Michaela Schmidt (10), Tiara Jackson (8)
Assists: Karli Miller (6)
Blocks: Tiara Jackson (1), Meghan Long (1), Samantha Martin (1)
Steals: Tiara Jackson (1), Sarah Martin (1), Karli Miller (1)

GAME RECAP
Samantha Martin gave IU Northwest a 5-4 lead midway through the first quarter. Aquinas responded with a three-point play to make it 7-5 then Samantha Martin tied it at 7-all at the end of the opening period. 

Aquinas started out scoring the first five points of the second quarter to grab a 12-7 lead. Tiara Jackson snapped the RedHawks cold streak with back-to-back layups to cut it to one (12-11) with 2:33 left in the first half. 

Sarah Martin quickly gave IU Northwest a 13-12 lead to cap off a 6-0 run by the RedHawks. AU responded right away with a 6-1 spurt to grab an 18-14 lead. 

Alyna Santiago responded right away with a three-pointer to cut it back down to one (18-17) with 38 seconds left. The Saints had an ensuing basket with 15 seconds left to go into the break ahead 20-17.

Meghan Long and Jackson started the second half with layups to give the RedHawks a 21-20 lead early. Aquinas responded right away with a basket to regain the lead. 

The Saints led 30-27 with 3:59 left in the third quarter then IU Northwest responded with a 9-0 run the rest of the quarter. Michaela Schmidt tied it with a three-pointer then Samantha Martin and Lauren Smolen made layups then Sarah Martin hit a jump shot with 10 seconds left to give the RedHawks a 36-30 lead after the third. 

Aquinas started the fourth quarter with a basket but IU Northwest bounced back. Schmidt made a pair at the line to give the RedHawks their first double-digit lead (48-37) with 3:48 left. 

The Saints responded with a three-pointer to make it 48-40 but the RedHawks scored the last six points of the contest. Schmidt and Samantha Martin hit baskets to give IU Northwest a 54-40 advantage and that score would hold towards the end of the game. 

UP NEXT
IU Northwest will be back in action Saturday, December 11 as the RedHawks travel to take on fellow IU school Indiana University South Bend with game time scheduled for 12 p.m. CT.