GARY, Ind. — Nia Allen scored 29 points and grabbed 20 rebounds, but IU Northwest went 2-of-18 from 3-point range and fell 83-75 to Saint Xavier on Wednesday night in the Home Court Heroes game, which honored local heroes of the Northwest Indiana area and veterans.
Before tipoff, the Indiana Army National Guard Color Guard presented the flag for the national anthem. IU Northwest Chancellor Arrick Jackson, a U.S. Army veteran and sergeant, also spoke. At halftime, veterans, active military members and first responders were recognized.
The RedHawks (1-4, 0-1) shot 38.4 percent and outscored the Cougars 42-20 in the paint. Saint Xavier made 10 of 25 3-pointers.
Lillie Woodworth hit a 3-pointer on the game's first made basket to put the Cougars up 3-0. Jordan Steele answered with a jumper and then a layup and free throw for a 5-3 RedHawk lead, the largest of the night at 7:14 of the first quarter. Aaliyah Keil's layup made it 7-6, but Maeve Egan answered for the Cougars, and IU Northwest never led again. Brooklynn Johnson hit back-to-back 3-pointers to help Saint Xavier take a 22-15 lead before Ciara Bonner's 3 in the final seconds cut it to 22-18.
Allen's steal and layup got IU Northwest within 25-24 early in the second quarter. Makayla Kelly then hit two 3-pointers in 40 seconds, part of a 5-of-11 quarter from deep for the Cougars, and Woodworth's 3-pointer with eight seconds left made it 45-34 at the break.
Ava Kingery scored nine points in the third quarter, including a 3-pointer and two layups, to cut the deficit to 49-45. Saint Xavier answered with a 15-4 run, and Laken LePage's layup with 34 seconds left made it 64-49, the Cougars' biggest lead.
IU Northwest outscored Saint Xavier 26-19 in the fourth quarter. Allen scored 13 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in the period, seven of them offensive, and her two free throws made it 73-64 with 3:52 left. Keil's free throws cut it to 73-66 with 3:07 to play, but Woodworth answered with a 3-pointer. The RedHawks got no closer than eight the rest of the way, and Allen's two free throws at the buzzer set the final margin.
Allen made 10 of 19 shots and 9 of 12 free throws in 25 minutes. Steele added 18 points, Keil had 10 points and three steals, and Kingery scored nine.
Woodworth led Saint Xavier with 20 points, including four 3-pointers. Veronica Bafia scored 17, Johnson had 14 points and eight rebounds, and LePage scored 13 off the bench.
IU Northwest continues conference play on Saturday, Nov. 14, at IU South Bend in South Bend, Ind. Tipoff is at noon.
