MILWAUKEE, Wis. – In what turned out to be a low scoring defensive battle, the Edgewood College women's basketball team did just enough to escape Alverno College with a victory. The Eagles struggled with ball control in the first half, took better care of the ball in the second half to take the 50-43 defensive struggle to move to 6-1 in Northern Athletics Conference play.

The Eagles opened the game with back-to-back three-point baskets by Shae Beckwith and Melanie Walker. Then Danielle Dixon made a layup with just under 16 minutes left to open up a 10-2 lead before the Inferno started a comeback.

Trailing 12-6, Alicia Kontowski knocked down a three-point basket to cut the deficit in half. Then with just over 10 minutes left in the first frame, Kontowski made a layup to give the Inferno (5-9, 3-6 NAC) their first lead of the game. Shataya McComb made another layup to extend their lead to 15-12.

Walker sparked an 11-1 Eagle run with consecutive layups and put the Eagles back ahead with 6:26 left in the first half. Dixon made a jumper before Beckwith knocked down another three-point basket and Maggie Peerenboom capped the run with a layup.

In the first half, the Eagles (8-5, 6-1 NAC) committed 15 turnovers, but held a 25-19 advantage.

Alverno scored eight of the first 10 second half points to come back and tie the game at 27 with just over 12 minutes to play. However, the Eagles scored five quick points, capped by Beckwith's third and final three-point basket of the contest to push the lead to 32-27.

The Inferno kept the Eagles within striking range and finally with just over two minutes to play, and Alverno cut the deficit to 42-40 with two Gabby Allen free throws, but the Eagles had a quick answer. The next trip down the floor, Alison Tobin made a layup before the Eagles forced an Inferno turnover. Dixon then pushed the Eagle lead to six with 1:38 left when she knocked down a jump shot.

Only 15 seconds later, McComb drove the lane, made a layup and got fouled. She completed the three-point play to make the Eagle lead just three points.

After an Inferno stop, they had a chance to tie the contest, but Brittany Bylsma blocked Allen's shot and got the defensive rebound with 45 seconds left. From that point on, all the Eagles would shoot was free throws, going 4-for-9 over the final 35 seconds to seal the 50-43 win.

The Eagles cut down their turnovers in the second half, only turning the ball over seven times. Both teams ended the contest with 22 turnovers and 10 steals. Neither team shot the ball well in the game, with the Eagles holding the advantage at 34.6 percent to the Inferno's 30.2 percent. Edgewood College went only 10-for-19 (52.6 percent) from the free throw line, but they made just enough to escape with the victory.

The Eagles did not have a scorer reach double figures, but Beckwith, Dixon and Walker all scored nine points apiece. Allen led Alverno with 14 points while McComb scored 13 and Kontowski chipped in with 12 points. Bylsma led the Eagles with eight rebounds while McComb grabbed a game-high nine boards.

The Eagles have a quick turnaround as they host Lakeland College on Tuesday night. Edgewood College will provide both live video and live stats for the 7:00 p.m. tipoff.