18th-ranked Northwestern College led from start to finish in its 85-73 win over Hope International, an NAIA Division I school, late Friday night at the San Diego Christian Classic. The Red Raiders improve to 9-5 on the season and hand HIU just its second loss, dropping to 11-2 on the year. 

Anna Kiel poured in a season-high 26 points, missing a mere one shot from the field (11/12), and Kassidy De Jong added 22 points and seven rebounds. Darbi Gustafson was also in double figures with 13 points, going 5-for-7 from the floor. 

Northwestern outscored HIU 13-4 during the first five minutes of the game, getting baskets by five different players and capped by a lay-up by Kiel. The Royals made it a two-point game by quarters end, getting a long three-pointer by Emma Florel just ahead of the horn to make the score 23-21. 

The Red Raiders put the game away in the second quarter, outscoring Hope International 25-9 over the second 10-minutes, for a commanding 48-30 halftime lead. Kiel netted 11 points during the quarter while the Red Raiders also got their perimeter game going with three-pointers from Paige Danner, and Sammy Blum. 

A basket by Gustafson followed by a three-pointer by De Jong pushed the Northwestern lead to 23 in the opening moments of the third quarter and they held a double digit lead the rest of the way.

Northwestern shot 64% for the game and held a commanding 45-20 edge on the glass, including 14 on the offensive side. Haley Birks pulled down a game-high eight boards and Renee Maneman dished out 10 assists, her sixth game with 10+ assists this season.

The Royals shot 44% for the game but were held to 30% in the decisive second quarter (3/10). Florel led HIU with 22 points and Rhiana Dougan with 14, draining four three-pointers.