The Aurora University Spartan women's basketball team hosted the Crusaders of Maranantha Baptist Bible College to start Saturday's Northern Athletics Conference double header basketball action, in Thornton Gymnasium. The Spartan women got the day off to a nice start, defeating the Crusaders 70-54,

picking up their first Northern Athletics Conference win as a result. 

The Crusaders started the contest by jumping out to a quick 9-4 lead and forcing AU Head Coach Jabari Harrell to use a timeout to settle down the host Spartans.

The timeout paid off as AU responded with a 17-4 run over the next nine minutes to grab an eight-point lead at 21-13.

As AU had done, the Crusaders used a timeout and they responded with a run of their own. Maranatha out-scored the Spartans 16-6 in the final 8:30 to take a 29-27 halftime lead.

The Spartans were led in the first half by senior center Michelle Perry who led her squad with 12 points, while Maranatha's sophomore guard Kristin Morrison led the visitors with 10 first-half points.

The second period remained a close game for the first seven minutes. 

The Spartans immediately tied the crusaders at 29-29 with a layup by Perry. The Crusaders and Spartans would change leads five times during the first seven minutes of the second half. 

With 14:34 remaining, Maranantha regained the lead 37-36 with a three-point field goal by sophomore guard Autumn Peotter. Led by Perry the Spartans would retake the lead for the last time, with 13:30 remaining in the game. 

After Maranatha led 40-39 with 13:44 in the contest, AU went on a 31-14 run to seal the victory and give AU first-year head coach Jabari Harrell his first NAC win.

Perry led the Spartans offensively shooting 12-of-13 from the floor and tallying a total of 29 points with six rebounds. Senior guard Jessica Mason contributed 17 points, three assists and three steals, while another senior, forward Makeda Queen had eight points, seven rebounds and five steals for the Spartans. Sophomore guard Autumn Peotter led the Crusaders with 21 points, including 5-of-8 from three-point range. The Spartans improve their record to 4-11 overall and 1-7 in the NAC and the Crusaders fall to 4-8 overall and 0-8 in the NAC.