In a game that was tied heading into the fourth quarter, the University of Northwestern Ohio used a 14-3 run to pull away from Lourdes on Tuesday evening and defeated the Gray Wolves 56-49 inside the Russell J. Ebeid Recreation Center.
 
"We are competing and fighting through lots of adversity," Lourdes head coach Tandy Bradford said afterwards.  "In the end we just need to take care of the basketball and find a way to score in big moments."
 
The Gray Wolves started quickly, scoring eight of the game's first 10 points before the Racers answered with a 7-0 run of its own.  Lourdes led 12-11 after one period and pushed the advantage back to four after Addie Conroy (Cleveland, Ohio/Padua Franciscan H.S.) hit a three-pointer to open the second. 
 
Northwestern Ohio responded with the next 10 points and eventually built a seven-point advantage, 25-18, late in the stanza before Lourdes scored four points in the final five seconds of the half to pull within three, 25-22, at intermission.
 
Lourdes forced 12 Racers turnovers in the third period and was able to pull even, 37-37, heading into the final 10 minutes.
 
After Winter Richburg (Toledo, Ohio/Rogers H.S.) scored the first basket of the fourth, Northwestern Ohio went on its 14-3 run, pushing the lead to nine, 51-42.  The Racers would lead by as many as 11, 55-44, before the Gray Wolves scored five the of the final six points but were unable to pull back even down the stretch.
 
Maddie Norton (Temperance, Mich./Bedford H.S.) led Lourdes with 14 points while Mercedes Wagner (Sherwood, Ohio/Fairview H.S.) added 11 more for the Gray Wolves.  Lourdes shot 30.8% from the floor on the evening.
 
Kalea Kruser led Northwestern Ohio (2-5, 1-3 WHAC) with 18 points as the Racers shot 51.1% from the field to offset 27 turnovers.  The Racers also held a 36-27 advantage on the glass and outscored Lourdes 38-12 in the paint.
 
Lourdes (3-6, 0-4) will have eight days off before returning to the hardwood on Wednesday, Dec. 1 as the Gray Wolves travel to Southfield, Mich. to face Lawrence Tech.  Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. inside of Ridler Fieldhouse.