Katie Hoeg became North Carolina’s all-time leading scorer as the No. 1 ranked Tar Heels overcame a two-goal halftime deficit to beat Northwestern 20-18 in a thriller in Evanston, Ill.

Hoeg had four goals and four assists to run her career points total to 261, breaking Corey Donohoe’s score record total of 256.

The teams came into the game with the NCAA’s top-two scoring offenses and lived up to the billing in Monday night’s nationally-televised game on the Big Ten Network. The Tar Heels gave up a season-high 18 goals, but Hoeg and company were up to the task, hitting the 20-goal mark for the third time in its seven victories.

Northwestern (4-3), which came in averaging 22.2 goals per game to lead the country, fell behind 5-1 early. Led by Izzy Scane, the Wildcats answered with six straight goals — three of them by Scane. Northwestern took a 10-8 halftime lead on Lauren Gilbert’s goal with 13 seconds to play in the half.

North Carolina turned the tables by scoring the first five goals of the second half. The Tar Heels opened up a five-goal lead at 18-13 on Hoeg’s goal with 9:28 remaining.

Northwestern wasn’t done, pulling to within 19-18 on a bounce shot by Izzy Scane with over five minutes still to play.

Izzy Scane's career-high 8th goal is a wicked bouncer. @NULax within one of @uncwlax on @BigTenNetwork. pic.twitter.com/wQoooGFtPl

— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) March 10, 2020

The Wildcats were unable to get the equalizer and North Carolina closed out the scoring on Scottie Rose Growney’s fourth goal of the game with 2:33 left in the game.

Hoeg’s eight points led the Tar Heels, but she had plenty of help. Growney had four goals and an assist and Nicole Humphrey and Taylor McDaniels each had hat tricks. Growney also was huge with 10 draw controls, helping the teams to an even 20-20 split.

Scane had a career-high eight-goal effort for Northwestern, coming on just 10 shots. Gilbert added three goals and three assists and Lindsey McKone had a hat trick.

Monday's Games

• Hannah Morris scored four goals and added an assist as Louisville improved to 5-4 with a 17-7 victory over Niagara.

• Katie Carroll scored three goals and Katie Bendrick had a career-high 13 draw controls in Radford's 12-7 win over Central Connecticut State.

• Freshman Emma Eberhardt set career-highs with four goals, five assists and nine points as Lehigh won its fourth straight game, beating Davidson 17-8.