MARION, Ind. — Indiana Northwest's undefeated start to the season came to an end Friday night as the RedHawks fell 89-75 to No. 2 Indiana Wesleyan in a high-intensity non-conference matchup.
Jessica Carrothers turned in a stellar performance for Indiana Northwest, scoring a team-high 32 points. The senior guard shot 11-of-23 from the field and was perfect from the free-throw line (10-of-10), adding six rebounds, three assists, and three steals in 39 minutes.
Tiara Jackson provided a strong presence in the paint, recording a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, including 10 defensive boards.
Katelyn Halfacre contributed six points, knocking down two of the RedHawks' three 3-pointers.
Indiana Wesleyan's Lilli Frasure delivered an exceptional performance, leading the Wildcats with 36 points on 13-of-19 shooting while grabbing 11 rebounds. Taylor Folkema added 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Megan Lawrence came off the bench to score seven points and dish out four assists.
The game was tightly contested in the first three quarters. Indiana Northwest held its largest lead of the night, 55-51, with 5:16 remaining in the third quarter. The Wildcats responded with a decisive 26-4 run spanning the third and fourth quarters, capitalizing on Indiana Northwest's 17 turnovers and their own dominance on the offensive glass. Indiana Wesleyan secured 13 offensive rebounds, leading to 17 second-chance points.
While the RedHawks shot an efficient 49.2% (29-of-59) from the field, they struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 3-of-16 attempts (18.8%). The Wildcats countered with nine 3-pointers and an 85.7% mark (24-of-28) at the free-throw line to maintain control.
The RedHawks are now 5-1 on the season and will look to bounce back at home on Wednesday, November 20 when they begin conference play against in-state rival Indiana University South Bend. Both teams are receiving votes for the NAIA Women's Basketball National Top 25 Rankings. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. from the Savannah Center.
Recap by PJ Katona
