GARY, Ind. -- The Indiana University Northwest women's basketball team used a strong second half against Cardinal Stritch as the RedHawks defeated the Wolves at the Savannah Center, 65-48, Monday.

TEAM RECORDS 
IU Northwest (19-8, 14-6 CCAC) | Cardinal Stritch (6-19, 4-15 CCAC) 

QUARTER BREAKDOWN
1st Quarter: IU Northwest 11, Cardinal Stritch 11
2nd Quarter: IU Northwest 13, Cardinal Stritch 13
Halftime Score: IU Northwest 24, Cardinal Stritch 24
3rd Quarter: IU Northwest 27, Cardinal Stritch 11
4th Quarter: IU Northwest 14, Cardinal Stritch 13
Final Score: IU Northwest 65, Cardinal Stritch 48

IU NORTHWEST LEADERS
Points: Michaela Schmidt (17), Katelyn Halfacre (12), Lauren Smolen (10)
Rebounds: Meghan Long (10)
Assists: Meghan Long (7)
Blocks: Meghan Long (1), Tiara Jackson (1)
Steals: Katelyn Halfacre (2), Meghan Long (2)

GAME RECAP
Cardinal Stritch started the game, scoring the first four points for an early 4-0 advantage. IU Northwest responded with the next seven points after Meghan Long and Tiara Jackson made layups then Michaela Schmidt knocked one down from three-point land. 

The Wolves bounced back with a 7-1 run the next few minutes to go up 11-8 with a minute to play in the first quarter. The RedHawks scored the final three points of the opening period to tie it at 11-all after one. 

IU Northwest started off with the first three points of the second quarter then Cardinal Stritch responded with five straight to grab a 16-14 lead. Both teams traded the next two baskets then Katelyn Halfacre gave the RedHawks back the lead with a three-pointer to make it 19-18.

Cardinal Stritch regained the lead after back-to-back buckets. The RedHawks got it right back after Karli Miller and Tiara Jackson made two straight baskets. 

Both teams were tied at 24-all at the half-time break. The second half started with both teams trading baskets to keep it tied at 26-26.

Stritch split a pair of free throws then IU Northwest would score 13 unanswered points including six straight points by Lauren Smolen to make it 41-27. The Wolves tried to get back in the game after scoring the next four points but Samantha Martin made a basket to make it 43-31. 

The Wolves made back-to-back baskets to cut it back down to eight points but then Schmidt was found in the corner for the three-pointer. Long converted a three-point play and Miller made a layup to close out the third quarter with IU Northwest leading 51-35.

Samantha Martin started the fourth quarter with a basket for the RedHawks to extend it out to 53-35. The Wolves got the two points right back after making a pair at the free throw line. 

Schmidt started another run for IU Northwest after making a three-pointer then Jackson and Halfacre made back-to-back buckets to make it 60-38 with under five minutes to play. Stritch responded with a 7-0 run to cut it back down to 15 points (60-45) with 2:29 remaining in the contest.

Halfacre was open once again to knock another triple and then hit a layup 30 seconds later. IU Northwest ended up winning the game 65-48.

UP NEXT
IU Northwest will be back in action Wednesday, February 16 as the RedHawks host their final home regular season contest against IU South Bend scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT.