GARY, Ind. -- The Indiana University Northwest women's basketball team was unable to come away with the victory Thursday as the No. 19 team in the country St. Xavier came away with the 74-54 victory at the Savannah Center. 

TEAM RECORDS 
#19 St. Xavier (11-5, 9-1 CCAC) | IU Northwest (11-5, 6-3 CCAC) 

QUARTER BREAKDOWN
1st Quarter: #19 St. Xavier 17, IU Northwest 15
2nd Quarter: #19 St. Xavier 20, IU Northwest 16
Halftime Score: #19 St. Xavier 37, IU Northwest 31
3rd Quarter: #19 St. Xavier 19, IU Northwest 6
4th Quarter: #19 St. Xavier 18, IU Northwest 17
Final Score: #19 St. Xavier 74, IU Northwest 54

IU NORTHWEST LEADERS
Points: Michaela Schmidt (19), Alyna Santiago (10)
Rebounds: Tiara Jackson (7)
Assists: Karli Miller (4)
Blocks: Karli Miller (1), Tiara Jackson (1)
Steals: Michaela Schmidt (4)

GAME RECAP
Both teams traded baskets to start the contest. SXU responded with five straight points to make it 7-2 before Samantha Martin bounced back with a layup. 

The Cougars took an 11-6 lead with 4:29 left in the first quarter. Michaela Schmidt converted a huge and-one to make it 11-9 SXU. 

Moments later, Karli Miller responded with a three-point play as well to make it 15-14 Cougars with 1:20 to play in the opening period. SXU led 17-15 after the first quarter.

SXU opened the second quarter with five straight points to make it 22-15. Schmidt was able to respond with a three-pointer to cut it back down to four. 

The Cougars bounced back with six straight points to build a 30-18 lead with 7:14 remaining in the half. Tiara Jackson converted on an and-one to cut it back down to nine which sparked four more points by Schmidt and Jackson which made it 30-25 SXU. 

St. Xavier responded with a basket before IU Northwest recorded six unanswered after Lauren Smolen made a tip-in second chance basket then Alyna Santiago and Schmidt made back-to-back layups to make it 32-31 SXU. The Cougars closed out the half with five straight points to grab a 37-31 lead at the break. 

SXU started the second half with a 10-3 run to make it 47-34 Cougars with 4:38 remaining in the third quarter. Martin looked to get the RedHawks back in the game after making a basket which made it 47-36.

The Cougars closed out the third quarter with a 9-1 run to give them a 56-37 lead at the end of the period. 

SXU opened up the final period with a three-pointer then Santiago responded with a three-pointer. Moments later, Santiago hit another one from downtown to make it 59-45 Cougars.

St. Xavier went on a 8-1 run to grab their biggest lead of the night (67-46) with 3:53 to play in the contest. SXU ended up winning the game 74-54.

UP NEXT
IU Northwest will be back in action Saturday, January 8 as the RedHawks travel to Elgin, Illinois to take on the Judson University Eagles starting at 1 p.m. CT.