Strong Second Half Lifts Carroll Over Northwest
SPOKANE, Wash. – Carroll College put together a strong second half to pull away and defeat Northwest University, 70-52, in the opening game of the season and the CCC-Frontier Challenge for both teams.
Northwest came out fast in the first half bolting to a 20-12 lead punctuated by a Corinne Burke 3-pointer. But the Saints from Helene, Mont., would go on a 10-0 run as NU would go cold and 0-4 from the floor during that time. Carroll’s Joey O’Neill’s jumper would give the Saints a 22-20 lead with 4:50 remaining in the half. Sanda Milovic would pull NU to within one, 22-21, with one of two free throws, but a trey by Torrie Cahill and an O’Neill score in the paint would increase the Saint lead to 27-21 with 3:32 to go until the half. CC’s Jordna Bagley would score on a three point play to lift the Saints to 31-29 lead at the 1:26 mark, but Northwest would answer and tie the score at 31-all on Domi Mendezona’s two free throws. Jordan Pfau would hit a jumper with 18 seconds left on the clock to give Carroll a 33-31 lead going into the locker room.
Carroll would get off to a fast start in the second half as they would rattle off the first 9 points before Northwest’s Jenna Lewis would stop the run with her score in the paint making it 42-33 Carroll with 16:35 on the clock. Three pointers by Sanda Milovic and Lewis would make it a 3 point game, 44-41, at the 14:35 mark, but two field goals by Torrie Cahill and Jordna Bagley would increase the CC lead to 50-42 at the 10:54 mark. That would begin a 15-2 run by Carroll as Bailey Snelling’s free throw would increase the Carroll lead to 21 points, 65-44 with 3:44 to go in the game. Carroll would maintain a comfortable lead the remainder of the game as they would register their first win of the season.
Northwest U. (0-1) would be led by Sanda Milovic’s 18 points. Junior guard Domi Mendezona scored 15 points for the Eagles who shot 32% for the game, 38% from the 3-point line. The Eagles hit 12 of 19 free throws for 63%.
Carroll College’s (1-0) Torrie Cahill led all scorers with 17 points while grabbing 6 rebounds. Teammate Joey O’Neill scored 10 points and Kalee Junkermier had a game high 7 rebounds. The Fighting Saints shot 45% for the game and held the edge in rebounding, 48-29. They got 27 points in scoring from their bench to 11 for Northwest.
"It's never fun to lose, but I was pleased with our effort," said Lori Napier, Eagle head coach. "We have a good base to work with this year."
Northwest continues play in the Challenge tomorrow when they meet the University of Great Falls at 4:00 p.m. The games are being held at Spokane Fall Community College.