Women’s golf finished the fall season on a strong note, beating out half the field and finishing eighth of 16 (330-315= 645).

Head coach Kim Kester liked how NIU came out Tuesday and played better in the final round of the MAC preview at the Hawthorns Golf Club in Fishers, Ind.

“We jumped a couple spots,” Kester said. “So we are ending on a high note that is good to see. The girls improved on yesterday so we got some good things to carry on to the spring so we’ll get back working at it. Overall it was a good tournament.”

Sam Coyne was the top Huskie finisher, taking 16th (79-79=158) out of 94. Three spots behind her was freshman Sydney Brickey, who was tied for 19th and struggled the first round, shooting a 85, but finished carding 74 after Tuesday’s round.

The day before the tournament the course got 5 inches of rain. Brickey felt the team played well despite the issues with the weather.

“The conditions where really bad the first day and the second day,” Brickey said. “I think we could have possibly done better, but I think we did our best with everything we had to go through.”

Connie Ellett came in 35th place, having a 84 after the first day and improving the final day, shooting 79 to finish with a 163. While senior Jenny Niemiec came in 52nd, carding an 82 after day one and 85 after day two to total 167.

Junior Casey LaBarbera played as an individual, finishing 58th (82-86 =168), and Taylor Ellett rounded out NIU in 67th (90-83=173).

The Huskies take a four-month break before they return Feb. 3 for the MAC Match Play in Lakewood Ranch Country Club in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.