Box Score FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Indiana Northwest RedHawks kicked off their season with a commanding 74-62 win over Concordia (MI) on Friday night at the CCAC/WHAC Classic, marking a memorable first career victory for head coach Nicki Monahan-Keith.

Jessica Carrothers led all scorers with 31 points, going 12-of-24 from the field and hitting 6-of-7 free throws. The junior guard also dished out five assists and added two steals, powering the RedHawks to pull away after a tightly contested first half. Tiara Jackson delivered a dominant performance in the post, contributing 23 points and grabbing a game-high 21 rebounds, with four of those on the offensive glass.

The game remained neck-and-neck through the first two quarters, with both teams tied at 37 at halftime. Indiana Northwest took control in the third quarter, outscoring the Cardinals 16-6 and holding them to just 15.4% shooting. The RedHawks continued their surge in the fourth, stretching their lead to a game-high 15 points with 1:04 remaining, thanks to clutch shooting and key stops.

Concordia was led by Brooke Brauher, who scored 12 points and pulled down seven rebounds, while Abby Long added 10 points and five assists. The Cardinals kept pace early, shooting 43.8% in the first quarter, but struggled to find consistent scoring after the break, hitting just 2-of-13 shots in the third.

Indiana Northwest shot an efficient 49.2% overall, including 40% from three-point range, and outrebounded Concordia 40-38. The RedHawks capitalized on turnovers, converting them into 14 points, and tallied eight second-chance points to secure the win.

The RedHawks will look to continue their success in the CCAC/WHAC Classic as they face #12 Indiana Tech. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. CDT.
 
Recap by PJ Katona