A three-point play by Anna Kiel with 24 seconds left gave Northwestern a 70-67 road win over 16th-ranked Hastings in the GPAC Quarterfinals played tonight in Hastings, Neb. 

Northwestern earns its 19th win of the season and improves to 19-10 overall. They advance to play No.2 Concordia in the GPAC semifinals on Saturday, Feb. 25 in Seward, Neb. 

Both Kiel and Kassidy De Jong scored 17 points to lead NWC. Chanda Zomermaand finished with 11 points coming off the Red Raiders bench, knocking down three three-pointers. Renee Maneman added 10 points, claimed six rebounds and dished out a game-high eight assists. 

How It Happened...

Northwestern went ahead 14-11 at the end of the first quarter following an 8-3 run, capped by back-to-back jumpers by Maneman and a lay-up from Kiel. The Red Raiders held the Broncos to one field goal over the final five minutes of the quarter. 

With the Red Raiders still up three (34-31) at the half, Northwestern went ahead, 45-39, after a three-pointer by Zomermaand and a jumper by De Jong with five minutes left in the third quarter. Another basket by Zomermaand gave Northwestern the largest lead of the game moments later, 49-41, until Hastings scored five of the next six points to make it a four-point game by quarters end (50-46). 

The game was tied four times in a tight fourth quarter, the final coming at 67 with 1:47 left to go. Both teams missed a go-ahead three-pointer on their respective possessions and Northwestern called timeout with 41 seconds left, setting up the winning three-point play by Kiel off an assist by Maneman. 

Hastings missed its final three shot attempts over the final 24 seconds, the last coming on a blocked shot by Kiel, as Northwestern held off the Broncos.

By the Numbers...

Northwestern shot 54% from the field, 29% (5/17) from the three-point line; Hastings shot 37% for the game, 16% (3/19) from beyond the arc. 

Hastings had the advantage at the foul line, making 16-for-23 (70%); Northwestern made 5-of-10 (50%) free throw attempts

Rebounding was nearly even, 33-32, in the Red Raiders' favor.

De Jong scored in double figures for the 20th time this season; she has 997 points for her career heading into Saturday

Kiel scored in double figures in her fourth straight game and 11th overall this season

Haley Birks totaled two blocks, giving her a GPAC-leading 42 this season

Rachel Jelden and Shandra Farmer led Hastings with 17 points each; the Broncos are now 22-9 as they head into national championship play in early March