Box Score

Haley Birks poured in a game-high 20 points in leading Northwestern to a 65-53 road win over Valley City State tonight in Valley City, N.D. 

The Red Raiders are off to a 2-0 start after earning their second straight road win, defeating Dakota State 83-43 Thursday night.

A night after recording her first career double-double against Dakota State, Birks followed with a 20-point, nine rebound effort against the Vikings. The sophomore matched her career-high in points, set last year in a win against Presentation. 

Trailing by two early (7-5), Northwestern went on an 8-0 run , capped by a Kassidy De Jong jumper, to pull ahead for good. The Red Raiders led by five (15-10) at the first break and pushed the lead to as much as 18 (35-17) just prior to the end of the first half.

Northwestern held VCSU scoreless for over six minutes during the second quarter, outscoring the hosts 13-0 during the run. The Red Raiders shot 50% over the first 20 minutes compared to 26% for Valley City State.

The Red Raiders went cold offensively in the third, allowing Valley City State to cut the lead down to 12 by the end of the quarter, 54-42. The Vikings made it a nine-point game (58-49) after a basket by Alli Vandal with four minutes left but a three-pointer by Birks sparked a 7-2 Northwestern run to put the game away.

De Jong netted 14 points and pulled down eight rebounds while Paige Danner added 10 points, going 2-for-8 from beyond the arc. Bre Schuiteman put in nine points and grabbed five rebounds coming off the bench. Northwestern held a commanding 43-33 edge on the glass, led by Darbi Gustafson who pulled down 10 for the second straight game.

Valley City State shot 30% for the game and was led by Vandal and Lexi Lennon with 13 points each.