Five Red Raiders scored in double figures to lead No. 25 Northwestern College past College of Saint Mary 77-60 in a GPAC match-up played this afternoon at the Bultman Center. 

Northwestern, who also defeated the Flames on Dec. 3 in Omaha,  has won two straight and five of its last six to improve to 6-6 in conference play, 14-6 overall. College of Saint Mary dropped its record to 1-11 in the GPAC, 5-14. 

Kassidy De Jong scored a game-high 20 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season. Darbi Gustafson registered her GPAC-leading eighth double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, scoring in double figures in her 12th straight game. Haley Birks, Paige Danner and Anna Kiel all netted 11 points each. 

How It Happened...

Trailing 14-10 at the five minute mark of the first quarter, Gustafson knocked down a short jumper to spark a 17-2 Northwestern run to put the Red Raiders up 27-16 after the first quarter. Danner knocked down consecutive three-pointers and De Jong hit one from downtown during the decisive run. 

The teams played even in the second quarter and both struggled from the field, shooting below 30% over the 10-minute stretch. Northwestern led 40-29 at halftime. 

Northwestern outscored the Flames 24-12 to put the game away in the third quarter, using a 16-3 run at one point to go up by 24 after a three-point play by Gustafson. The Red Raiders led 64-41 by quarters end and extended their lead to as much as 28 (74-46) in the final period. 

Northwestern Notes...

Northwestern shot an even 50% in every quarter but the second (29%) and shot 44% for the game, 33% (5/15) from beyond the arc. 

College of Saint Mary shot 35% for the game and also made 5 of its 15 three-point attempts (33%).

Northwestern held a commanding 50-35 edge on the boards, pulling down 14 on the offensive side; Gustafson (13) posted her 10th game with 10+ rebounds; De Jong (12) with her 5th 10+ rebound game

Renee Maneman dished out 10 assists; her fourth 10+ assist game of the season and eighth for her career

DeJong is now tied for 37th all-time in career scoring with 870pts; tied with Jill (Rector) Kress

Northwestern has outrebounded its opponent in six straight games and 13 for the season

Ashley Nelson was the lone Flames' player in double figures with 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds.