Box Score

Darbi Gustafson scored a career-high 22 points in leading Northwestern College to a 79-63 home win over Dordt College in a conference match-up played tonight at the Bultman Center. 

Northwestern earned its second straight win, improving to 2-3 in the GPAC, 8-3 overall. Dordt slips to 0-3 and 5-4.

For the second straight game, Gustafson set a new career high with 22 points, going 7-for-15 from the field and 8-for-12 from the free throw line. The sophomore also pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds for her second straight and fourth double-double of the season. Paige Danner added 17 points, 13 in the first half, and both Renee Maneman and Haley Birks scored 15, giving Northwestern players in double figures.

How It Happened...

Dordt held a slight lead early (7-5) but Northwestern went ahead for good with a 10-2 run,capped by two free throws by Gustafson with 3:20 left in the first quarter. The Red Raiders extended their lead to 11 (22-11) after a jumper by Maneman and led 22-13 by the time the quarter ended.

The teams played even in the second quarter as the Northwestern lead ranged from 6-13 points, ending with a 44-34 halftime score.

Consecutive baskets by Maneman capped a 10-3 Northwestern run to give the hosts its largest lead, 56-41, midway in the third quarter. The Red Raiders maintained their double-digit lead for the final 13 minutes as Dordt never got closer than 11.

By the Numbers...

Northwestern shot 48% for the game, 29% (2-for-7) from the 3pt line; Dordt went 45% from the field, 24% (4-for-17) from the 3pt line

Red Raiders held a 39-27 edge on the boards, including 14 on the offensive glass.

Gustafson leads the team with four double-doubles on the season; this was her sixth game with 10+ rebounds this year

Birks has scored in double figures in eight games; Danner with seven and Maneman with six

Dordt was led by Kim Kroeze with 18 points, going 7-for-11 from the field; Kroeze was the only Defenders' player in double figures