Game Time...Northwestern College plays host to Dakota Wesleyan in a crucial GPAC match-up this weekend in Orange City, Iowa. Tip-off on Saturday, Jan. 7 at the Bultman Center is scheduled for 2pm. Both teams have won three straight games with No. 8 Dakota Wesleyan coming in with a 5-2 league record, 14-2 overall. Northwestern is 4-5 in the GPAC, 12-5 overall. 

Follow the game live via the NWC webcast at this link: Watch Now!

or listen to the game live via KSOU radio: Listen Now!

Live Stats via DakStats: Live Stats!

All-Time...Northwestern holds the edge in the all-time series, 37-15, and is 7-3 over the last 10 match-ups. The Red Raiders were swept by DWU last year, losing 73-70 at home and 64-62 at the Corn Palace. 

Last Five Match-Ups:

2015-16: 73-70 lost (H)
2015-16: 64-62 lost (A)
2014-15: 93-88 OT won (A)
2014-15: 80-66 won (H)
2013-14: 85-76 won (H)

Scouting Report:

No. 8 Dakota Wesleyan Tigers: 5-2 (3rd), 14-2 Head Coach: Jason Christensen (7th year)

Ranked eighth in the NAIA D-II preseason coaches' poll, the Tigers opened the season with 10 straight wins to climb all the way up to No. 1 in the first poll of the regular season. They lost on the road to Concordia and then again to Hastings on the road to fall back to eighth in the poll. Since the setback at Hastings, DWU has wins over Indiana Tech, Grace and Dakota State to improve to 5-2 in the GPAC, 14-2 overall.

Already second on the all-time wins list at DWU in just six-plus seasons, Christensen returns four starters and 10 players from a 2015-16 team that finished with a 27-9 overall record, the third most wins in program history. DWU qualified for the NAIA National Tournament for the first time in 12 years, losing to Goshen in the quarterfinals. Two of the returners are 1,000-point scorers: Erica Herrold and Kristin Sabers.

DWU is the top rebounding team in the GPAC, ranking sixth with a +9 margin. They also lead the conference in field goal percentage (46%) and field goal percentage defense (36%).

Top Players:
Ashley Bray-12.9ppg, 5rpg, 24 3pters (2nd team all-GPAC)
Erica Herrold-10.9ppg, 3.2rpg, 30 3pters (NAIA All-American)
Amber Bray-10.5ppg, 5.9rpg (All-Conference)
Sarah Carr-10.3ppg, 4.9rpg

Northwestern Notes:

Since losing consecutive games just prior to Christmas break, Northwestern has won three straight, defeating #15 Friends, Viterbo and Midland.

The Red Raiders rank second in the GPAC in field goal percentage (45%) and rebounding (+5)

Northwestern leads the GPAC with 63 blocks; ranking 10th in the NAIA

The Red Raiders have shot better than their opponent in all but three games this season

Kassidy DeJong leads the GPAC in scoring at 22ppg; De Jong has scored in double figures in 11 games and has four double-doubles

Haley Birks ranks sixth in the GPAC in scoring (14) and has scored in double-digits 11 times this season

Darbi Gustafson leads the conference with six double-doubles and averages 12.8 points and 9.2 boards per game

Anna Kiel (10.7) and Paige Danner (10.6) also average in double figures

Renee Maneman scores 9.8 points per game and leads the NAIA with 132 assists; Maneman ranks tied for 6th all-time in program history with 402 assists, tied with Jaime (Hoegh) Van Kley (2003-07)

Chanda Zomermaand leads the GPAC with 28 3pters and ranks second in the GPAC in three-point shooting (42%)