Eisenhower’s Mackenzie Dunn guards Northwestern’s Makayla Presser-Palmer during Monday’s Region 3 game in Russell. Times Observer Photo by Steve Younger

RUSSELL — The Eisenhower Knights played host to the Wildcats of Northwestern in a Region 3 girls basketball game Monday night, and played them tough for the final three quarters.

Unfortunately, in the first quarter, the Knights dug themselves a 20-3 hole that proved too much to overcome en route to a 56-36 loss.

Eisenhower held the Wildcats scoreless for the first three minutes of the opening quarter until freshman Makayla Presser-Palmer scored the first 2 of her game-high 22 points to give the Wildcats the lead. That lead was short-lived as Knights freshman Clara Steinberg hit a long 3-pointer to give Eisenhower a 3-2 lead.

Northwestern once again turned to Presser-Palmer and the freshman proved up to the task, scoring 10 points in the quarter as the Wildcats opened up a 17-point lead.

The scoring was about even with 11 for the Wildcats and 9 for the Knights in the second quarter as the visitors went to the locker room with a 31-12 halftime lead.

Presser-Palmer, who averages 19.6 points per game, scored 14 points in the first half.

Eisenhower came out of the locker room intent on scoring points, chopping away at the Northwestern lead by outscoring the Knights 14-11 in the third quarter. Steinberg had 7 points and the score was 44-26 in favor of the Wildcats.

Eisenhower played solid defense in the fourth quarter, but could not cut into the lead despite Samantha Childs’ 6 fourth-quarter points.

Steinberg led the Knights with 14 points.

In jayvee action, Northwestern won 49-17. The Wildcats were led by Rylee Schwartz’s 19 points. Lillian Smyth led Eisenhower with 6 points.

NORTHWESTERN (56)

Rastetter 1 0 2, Miller 2 0 4, Bird 1 0 2, Presser-Palmer 8 6 22, Bucci 3 1 7, Schwartz 4 1 9, Eddy 0 0 0, Yazembiak 3 2 10. Totals 22 10 56.

EISENHOWER (36)

Font 3 1 7, Childs 3 0 6, Belcher 1 0 2, LSmyth 1 0 3, Dunn 2 0 4, CSmyth 0 0 0, Steinberg 5 1 14. Totals 15 2 36.

3-point goals–Yazembiak 2, LSmyth, Steinberg 3.

Northwestern 20 11 13 12 — 56

Eisenhower 3 9 14 10 — 36

Jayvees: Northwestern won 49-17.