BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — The Indiana University Northwest women's basketball team dropped a conference matchup to Olivet Nazarene University, 89-51, on Saturday afternoon at McHie Arena.

The RedHawks (10-4, 3-3 CCAC), playing without star guard Jessica Carrothers and a few other key contributors, struggled to contain the Tigers' up-tempo offense, allowing 36 points in the paint and 24 second-chance points. Olivet Nazarene (8-6, 5-1 CCAC) pulled away in the second quarter, outscoring IU Northwest 30-11 to build a commanding 46-20 halftime lead.

Senior forward Tiara Jackson led the RedHawks with a double-double, finishing with 19 points and a game-high 16 rebounds. Katelyn Halfacre added 10 points and five boards, while Emma Schmidt contributed six points, eight rebounds, and two assists. Despite their efforts, IU Northwest was unable to overcome Olivet Nazarene's relentless full-court press, which forced 37 turnovers.

Olivet Nazarene showcased balanced scoring, with Olivia Dirkse leading the way with 17 points, four steals, and two rebounds in just 18 minutes. Calee Biedron added 15 points and five assists off the bench, while Preslee Michael chipped in 11 points. The Tigers' reserves accounted for 45 of the team's 89 points, showcasing their depth.

The RedHawks shot 40% from the field (20-of-50) but struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 5-of-18 attempts (27.8%). Olivet Nazarene, meanwhile, hit 14-of-54 from three-point range (25.9%) and capitalized on IU Northwest's mistakes, scoring 36 points off turnovers.

IU Northwest will look to bounce back on Wednesday, Jan. 8, when they host Judson University at 5 p.m. in the Savannah Center.

Keep up with all the latest updates on Indiana Northwest Athletics by following @IUNRedHawks on X and Instagram.

Recap by PJ Katona