No.25 Northwestern College used an 8-0 run early in the fourth quarter to pull away and defeat No.7 Hastings 76-69 in GPAC match-up played in Hastings, Neb.
The Red Raiders won their fourth straight and have won seven of their past eight games to improve to 8-6 in the GPAC, 16-6 overall. Hastings had its 10-game GPAC win streak snapped and drops to 11-2 in the GPAC, 18-4 overall.
Anna Kiel poured in a career-high 22 points, making 7-of-10 field goal attempts, and pulled down seven rebounds. Kassidy De Jong added 18 points and seven boards and Haley Birks netted 14, including a pair of three-pointers.
How It Happened...
The first quarter featured 10 lead changes, five ties and concluded with an 18-18 tie.
Tied at 26 late in the second quarter, Kiel scored three straight to put the Red Raiders in front only to have Hastings score the final five points of the half on a basket by Holly Hild and a three-pointer by Shanelle Farmer for a 31-29 halftime lead.
The Broncos held their largest lead of the game, 39-33, after the opening minutes of the third and still held onto a four-point lead, 46-42, at the 4:38 mark. Birks then knocked down a three-pointer as Northwestern scored the next seven points en route to a 17-4 run to give the visitors a 59-50 lead after consecutive baskets by Kiel.
Hastings made it a four-point game by quarters end, 59-54, and then scored the first four points of the fourth to cut the Northwestern lead down to one, 59-58, with nine minutes to go.
Northwestern answered with an 8-0 run, beginning and ending with a De Jong jumper, to put NW in front, 67-58. The Red Raiders sealed the win with an outstanding defensive effort over the final six-plus minutes, not allowing a field goal and forcing four Broncos turnovers.
By the Numbers...
Northwestern shot 52% for the game, 44% (4/9) from the 3pt line; Hastings shot 42% from the field and struggled to just 15% (3/20) from the three-point arc
The Red Raiders held a 26-16 advantage from the free throw line; also had the edge on the boards, 28-24.
Northwestern committed 19 turnovers compared to 14 by the Broncos
Kiel has scored in double figures in five of her eight games this season; Birks has scored in double figures in 16 games, De Jong with 15.
De Jong moved into a tie for 34th place all-time in career scoring with 908 points; she ties Heather Grafing (1999-2003).
Hastings was led by both MacKenzie Willicott and Shandra Farmer with 14 points each
