MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.-- Women's Basketball opened their Upper Midwest Athletic Conference schedule on Saturday with a tough home loss to The Unviersity of Northwestern. Despite never trailing in the first half and three Rams players having an outstanding night, the visiting Eagles claimed an 81-69 victory over North Central.

North Central (4-5, 0-1) led for long stretches of the first half before settling in for a 36-36 score at the halftime break. Sophomore Jamie High (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo) nearly recorded a double-double in the first 20 minutes with 11 points and 8 rebounds while senior Jorie Grenell (Lakeville, Minn./Spring Lake Park) poured in 15 points on 5-9 shooting from behind the 3-point line. NCU led by as many as six at several points in the first half including 25-19 after High hit a three pointer at the 6:01 mark.

Coming out of the locker room Northwestern (9-3, 1-0) scored first to take a 38-36 lead and NCU would never lead again. A huge scoring night from Jorie Grenell who ended the night 8-16 from behind the arc and effective point guard play from senior Julia Skeesick (Victoria, Minn./Chaska) helped the Rams keep the game within reach before UNW could secure the game.

A three minute stretch NCU scoreless stretch from around 15 minutes remaining and 12 mintues left pushed a five point Eagles lead to 55-42. The lead grew to as many as 19 with 7 minutes left before NCU trimmed the difference to 77-66 with 1:28 left but that is close as it would get.

Jorie Grenell scored a game high and career best 29 points, the tying the sixth best single game tally in Rams history. Jamie High continued her fantastic sophomore season by posting 18 points and equallying a career best 15 rebounds, a game high mark. Juila Skeesick also posted a double double of 13 points and an impressive 11 assists, her career high number and the third best single game in NCU history.

The Rams will be off until next weekend when they make the UMAC league play, southern swing. NCU takes on Bethany Lutheran College (Mankato, Minn.) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, January 17 before taking on Martin Luther College (New Ulm, Minn.) at 5 p.m. the next evening.