MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Finally back in action, the North Central University (NCU) women's basketball team hosted their first game of the new year, facing off against the University of Northwestern (UNW). The matchup, starring two of the top teams in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC), went to the Eagles with a score of 57-43.

Game Recap

It was a struggle for both teams to get on the board in the opening minutes. The first field goal went to the Rams three minutes into the game from a layup by Emily DiGiorgio (Ironwood, MI, Luther L. Wright High School). It really wasn't until the second quarter that the Rams and the Eagles found their rhythm on offense. NCU started out the second quarter with a three from Aubrey Robinson (Colorado Springs, CO, Sierra High School) shortly followed by another three from Mary Seegers (Oconomowoc, WI, Homeschool). Seegers shot 60% from downtown with three made three point shots.

These second ten minutes is where most of the offensive action happened on either end of the court, creating an exciting back and forth game. And at the half, the score was 33-29 for the Eagles, just a couple possessions for the Rams to gain the lead.

UNW went on a little run going into the third quarter but was quickly shut down from some defensive intensity. Since NCU's shots weren't falling, they looked to their hustle on defense to generate some buckets. The Rams also fed the ball into DiGiorgio multiple times to attack the Eagle's defense down low.

With eight minutes to go in the fourth, NCU was down by five points. But UNW hit some vital shots to cushion their lead and the Rams, despite their effort, ran out of time. While the 57-43 result gives the NCU women's basketball team their first lost of the season, they still hang onto an impressive 12-1 record.

Key Performers

• Emily DiGiorgio snagged a double double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
• Aubrey Robinson put up 11 points, seven rebounds, and three steals.
• Rounding out the night was Kadija Conteh with ten points, and six rebounds.

Looking Ahead

The Rams have a jammed-packed weekend with two home UMAC games. On Friday, NCU will play Northland College at 5:30 pm where they will also unveil their limited time University jerseys. In accordance with the new mandate set by the city of Minneapolis, we ask all fans to wear a mask during the game. And all fans are encouraged to tune into official Rams Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter pages for updates on the women's basketball team and more important information.