The Northwestern girls basketball season got underway this past weekend. The team played in the Hamburg Tip-Off Tournament and split two games before the Colonial League portion of the schedule got underway Tuesday when the Tigers defeated Northern Lehigh 64-59.

In the tournament opener, Eastern Lebanon County (ELCO) sank four three-pointers in the fourth quarter en route to scoring 23 points in the final period to beat Northwestern 63-58.

Cara Thomas (18 points) and freshman Natalie Conner (12 points) led Northwestern (1-0 Colonial, 2-1 overall). Thomas scored nine of her points in the final quarter.

On day two, Northwestern beat Hamburg 56-15 as Thomas (14 points) and Conner (18 points) again led the way. Conner opened with a 13-point first quarter.

Thomas and Conner were both named to the all-tournament team at Hamburg.

ELCO defeated Southern Columbia 53-49 to win the annual tournament. The Raiders’ Kenzie Eckhart earned the tournament’s MVP award.

The Tigers played their home opener against Northern Lehigh and picked up the win.

Thomas scored 20 points in the second half to finish with 25 points, with 12 points on three-pointers. Fellow senior Brook Balliet had 12 points for Northwestern.

Throughout their first three games, Northwestern shot 68-percent (19-28) from the foul line and hit 13 shots from beyond the arc, including seven in the win over the Bulldogs.

Conner opened eyes during camp and has been in the starting lineup in each of the first three games for Northwestern.

By averaging 19 points per game in the first three games, Thomas has pushed her career scoring total to 1,069 points for Northwestern Lehigh.