WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Makayla Best had a team-high 20 points, but the Indiana University Northwest women's basketball team couldn't overcome a slow start in the first quarter as Spring Arbor was a 99-75 winner Friday night in the Val Weinstein Classic.
 
Katelyn Halfacre gave the RedHawks their only lead of the evening on the first basket of the game. Spring Arbor would then score the next 18 points before Halfacre would end the scoring drought for IUN when she drained a three.
 
The RedHawks outscored SAU in the second period, but still could not climb out of the deficit. IUN would get within 21 when Best drained one of her two three pointers near the end of the half.
 
Emma Schmidt, who scored 12 points on the day got the RedHawks deficit under 20-points early in the third. SAU, however, would eventually build a lead of 29 towards the end of the half before Halfacre drilled a three ball.
 
During fourth quarter action, IUN would once again outscore Cougars 25-23 and shot 50 percent (10-of-20) from the floor but did not get any closer than 23 after Samantha Martin hit the front end of two free throws.
 
Martin scored nine points on the day and pulled down a team-best nine rebounds, while Abbie Tomblin hit double figures for the second time in as many games.
 
Up next for IUN is the second day of the Val Weinstein Classic when the RedHawks take on host Grace College at 1 p.m.

 
--#TheRedHawkWay--