ST. PAUL, Minn. -  The North Central University women's basketball team traveled to the University of Northwestern St. Paul for an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) playoff contest. The game was the first time the women's basketball team has ever made a UMAC playoff appearance. In front of a well-traveled crowd NCU wasn't able to get the playoff victory as they were defeated by UNW 80-64.

Game Vitals

• UNW out shot NCU from the field 50 percent (28-for-56) to the NCU 35.6 percent (21-for-59)
• NCU turned the ball over 18 times.
• UNW held NCU to 9 points in the 2nd quarter.

Game Recap

• The highly-anticipated match-up started with a bang. Senior Haleigh Filer went on a 7-0 personal run, including back to back three-point buckets, to give NCU an early 7-2 lead. UNW battled back with a 9-0 run to give them a 14-9 lead with just over 3 minutes remaining in the 1^st quarter. As the two teams continued to trade baskets, UNW used two late buckets to give them a 20-14 lead at the end of the 1^st. UNW extended their lead early in the opening minutes of the 2^nd quarter using an 10-2 run to make the game 30-16. A three-point bucket by Betty Rand ended the UNW run. NCU used a couple three point buckets to get back into the game. UNW proved to be up for the task as they used late buckets yet again to go on a 11-0 run to close out the half and give UNW a 42-23 lead heading into halftime. Haleigh Filer led NCU with points with 10. UNW opened the half right where they left off as they hit all 3 of their first attempts in the 2^nd half, extending their lead to 49-27. A three-point bucket by Allison Bulthuis and a pair of free throws from Haleigh Filer brought the game to 51-35 with 5 minutes remaining in the 3^rd quarter. However, UNW had their largest lead at the end of the 3^rd quarter by a score of 60-40. NCU battled throughout much of the 4^th quarter but it wasn't enough as NCU dropped the road playoff game by a score of 80-64. Senior Haleigh Filer put forth a gutsy performance in her last game in a Rams uniform as she scored 28 points.

Key Performers

• Haleigh Filer 28 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists
• Naomi Hagstrom 17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists

 
Season Recap
 

• The women's basketball team made history in the 2018-19 season. The Rams made their first ever UMAC playoff tournament in the programs history. The Rams finished 5^th in the UMAC with a regular season record of 8-8 which is the most conference wins the program has seen in the UMAC era. The Rams notched a program best 14 wins en route to a 14-11 overall record.  The Rams will return 4 of their 5 starters but will say goodbye to senior leader, Haleigh Filer. Filer finished her senior campaign with 14.9 points per game, 6.4 rebounds per game, and 4 assists per game. The Rams will miss her leadership on and off the court next season, but with many returning players the Rams will look to continue the new standard set by the program this year.

 

MEDIA: If you need further information, please feel free to contact Justin Brown at 612-343-3539 or email Jdbrown@northcentral.edu.
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