Box Score

MADISON, Wis. - Despite holding the lead for the entire game, the Edgewood College women's basketball's victory over Concordia University Wisconsin was anything but comfortable. Ultimately, the Eagles put together just enough made free throws and timely baskets to hold off the Falcons, 71-65 in their Northern Athletics Conference opener.

Edgewood College (2-2, 1-0 NAC) jumped on the Falcons early with good shooting and a disruptive full court press. Junior Sadie Ewing scored six of the Eagles' first eight points for a quick 8-4 Eagles lead. Ewing would eventually make all five of her shots from the field and go into halftime with 13 points. Shae Beckwith, back from a two game absence due to injury, nearly matched Ewing shot-for-shot, going 5-for-6 in the first half, including a pair of three-point baskets, for 12 points.

The Eagles made their biggest move of the game with eight minutes to play in the half. Ewing hit two buckets and added two free throws to ignite an 18-4 run. Beckwith scored a pair of buckets and freshman Denay Hering chipped in five points to complete the spurt. Together, Ewing and Beckwith outscored the entire Falcons team, as the Eagles carried a 38-22 lead into the break.

Concordia Wisconsin (2-3, 1-1 NAC) found renewed energy to start the second half. After the Eagles' Brittany Bylsma scored a jump shot to open play, the Falcons rattled off a 10-2 run to cut the Eagles' margin to 10 points at 42-32. Edgewood College answered with a three-point play from Ewing and a pair of baskets by Melanie Walker to push the lead back up to 52-34 with 11:15 to play, but the Falcons still had another push remaining.

The Falcons' Katie Luethe scored baskets on back-to-back possessions to cap an 11-1 run and Concordia Wisconsin was in striking distance at 59-53 with just under four minutes to play. However, the Eagles answered with six straight points on a Bylsma jumper, a Ewing layup and two Walker free throws. The Falcons' Tiffany Hendrickson and Melanie Kulibert made three-point baskets to cut the Eagles' lead to 68-63 with 28 seconds to go, but Byslma and Danielle Dixon converted free throws down the stretch for the final 71-65 margin.

Ewing led all scorers with her second career-high in as many home games, scoring 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting. Beckwith added 16 points, and has yet to miss a three point shot in six attempts this season. Bylsma tallied seven points and a team-high 10 rebounds, but really made her presence felt on the defensive end with seven blocked shots. Walker finished with eight points, including six from the free throw line.

The Falcons had four players in double figures led by Kendall Kerns and Luethe with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Kulibert and Hendrickson finished with 11 points apiece. Edgewood College shot 44.8 percent (26-for-58) from the field compared to just 31.8 percent (21-for-66) for the Falcons.

Edgewood College will play their first NAC road game next Thursday when they travel to Watertown for a date with Maranatha Baptist. The Eagles will be back home on December 4, against Concordia University Chicago.