WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Scoring 24 points in the third quarter helped lift the Indiana University Northwest women's basketball team to a 77-68 victory over (RV) Grace Saturday afternoon in the final day of Val Weinstein Classic.
Makayla Best, who chipped in with a team-best 22 points on the day got the RedHawks (2-2) offense going with the first bucket of the day. However, after the teams traded baskets, Grace would use a short run to take a six-point lead after the opening stanza.
On a pair of
Alyna Santiago free throws IUN was within two but couldn't tie it up and would go scoreless for the next five minutes. The scoring drought would allow the Lancers to take a 38-28 lead before Santiago scored around the three-minute mark.
Emma Schmidt began the second half with a steal and led to a
Samantha Martin bucket, which was two of her 13 points on the afternoon. The RedHawks kept the Lancers off the board for the first eight minutes and had 11 defensive rebounds during that time. IUN outscored Grace 24-3 during the third period.
During four quarter action, Grace would get its deficit to five (65-60), but another Martin jumper and a Schmidt assist shifted the momentum back to IUN and it held on for the nine-point victory.
Four of IUN's starters hit the double figure mark with
Katelyn Halfacre putting in 18, while Santiago added 12 points and
Abbie Tomblin added eight off the bench.
Up next for the RedHawks is a Wednesday night game against Huntington in Savannah Center starting at 6 p.m.
--#TheRedHawkWay--
