CHICAGO – Jessica Carrothers and Makayla Best each scored in double figures for the Indiana University Northwest women's basketball team, Saint Xavier, however, held on for the 77-70-win Saturday afternoon in CCAC action.
 
The RedHawks (6-6, 3-2) found themselves down by as much as four in the first quarter, but with 1:14 to go Tiara Jackson scored two of her nine to tie the contest up. IUN though could not carry over the momentum into the second.
 
Less than four minutes into the second 10 minutes, SXU went up by eight (33-25) and then for the next seven minutes the RedHawks used an 11-3 run to even the score. The run was capped off by Abbie Tomblin's trifecta, which tied it up at 36.
 
Then right before intermission the Cougars scored on a layup, which gave them a two-point advantage at the break.
 
A pair of times during third quarter action IUN was down five but battled back to tie the conference matchup on Katelyn Halfacre's three and then on a jumper by Carrothers. But each time SXU would have an answer and did not allow the RedHawks to take a lead.
 
Less than two minutes into the final stanza, Halfacre again would answer the call as she tickled the twine for two of her 11 off the bench to bring IUN within one (60-59). The RedHawks, however, could not overtake the Cougars as they used an 8-2 spurt to grab the momentum.
 
IUN returns to the court in the new year when it hosts Olivet Nazarene on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 1 p.m.