Northwestern used active hands and impressive defensive anticipation to beat Maryland Eastern Shore, 69-54, on Friday night. The 'Cats weren't particularly clean themselves, turning the ball over 15 times, but it helps when the other team turns it over 18 times.

The 'Cats heated up from the field as the game went along, finishing with a 44% mark from the field. Grace Sullivan posted another solid performance, with 16 points. Casey Harter and Tayla Thomas also helped lead the way with 19 and 16 respectively.

Thomas was active on the glass as well, finishing with 11 boards for a double-double. Harter, meanwhile, found her stroke from beyond the arc, knocking down five three-pointers in the game on seven attempts.

It was a balanced scoring attack for Northwestern in the first half, especially. Sullivan finished the first two quarters with 10 points, and Thomas was right on her tail with nine. Harter and Angelina Hodgens -- who didn't check in until the middle of the second quarter -- finished with eight and five respectively.

Hodgens gave Northwestern a nice boost off the bench in a tie ballgame, immediately drilling a three that kicked off an 8-0 towards the end of the half. McKeown rewarded her with more playing time as a result. She played six minutes on the night.

Early in the game, MD Eastern Shore hung with the 'Cats because it was the better team shooting the ball. After the first quarter, the Hawks were shooting it at a 47% clip from the field to Northwestern's 33%. That flipped by the end of the game.

Despite NU's turnover struggles this season and in year's past, the 'Cats actually did well in that department in the first half. Turning the ball over six times in a half isn't great, but it's better than the numbers they've posted in some other halves this season. They also forced 11 first half turnovers from UMES, a huge reason why Northwestern led 37-29 at the half.

In the third quarter, Northwestern continued to widen the lead. Harter really took over in the third frame, drilling two threes and scoring eight points. She was at 16 after three quarters -- two off her career high of 18 -- which she'd break in the fourth with another three-ball.

The 'Cats were a little less disciplined with the ball in the second half, committing four turnovers in the first six minutes, but they continued to turn the Hawks over on the other end. NU led 56-44 after three quarters.

From there, the 'Cats closed out the win and maintained a fair distance on the scoreboard. Maryland Eastern Shore didn't put together much of a push in the later stages of this contest, and NU cruised to victory.

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