Game Time...Another ranked opponent awaits the Northwestern College women's basketball team as they play host to No.11 Hastings College this weekend. Tip-off on Saturday, Jan. 13 is scheduled for 2pm. Northwestern, ranked 14th in this week's coaches' poll, is tied with the Broncos for second place in the GPAC with an 8-2 record, 13-5 overall. Hastings has won eight straight games and brings a 16-2 record into the Bultman Center. 

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

All-Time...Northwestern is 25-31 all-time against the Broncos, 6-4 over the last 10 match-ups. The Red Raiders have won three straight in the rivalry, however, earning wins in the last two meetings last year and also picking up a 70-63 win on the road earlier this season on Nov. 21.

Last Time vs Hastings... Five Northwestern players scored in double figures to lead Northwestern to a 70-63 win over Hastings in a conference match-up between ranked teams played in Hastings on Nov. 21. Kassidy De Jong led Northwestern with 18 points and both Darbi Gustafson and Paige Danner netted 13 points, followed by Renee Maneman with 12 and Haley Birks with 11. De Jong and Gustafson shared game-high honors with eight rebounds and Maneman dished out six assists.   

        Game Recap | 

Scouting Reports...

    No.11 Hastings College Broncos: 8-2 (GPAC), 16-2 overall   Head Coach: Jina Douglas (3rd year)

The Broncos have won eight straight games, including five in conference play, since a 77-65 setback to Concordia on Dec. 6. They have climbed into a tie for second in the GPAC, along with Northwestern, with an 8-2 record, 16-2 overall. They have wins over DWU, Morningside, SUNY, Adrian, Haskell, Midland, Dordt and Doane during their streak.

Coach Douglas returns all five starters and eight of her top nine players from a 2016-17 team that finished fourth in the GPAC with a 14-6 record, 22-10 overall. They lost to Friends (Kan.) in the first round of the NAIA D-II Championship to end their season.

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank/NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 71.5ppg (9th)
    Scoring Defense: 50.7ppg (1st/1st)
    Field Goal Percentage: 41% (7th)
    3pt Percentage: 28% (10th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 75% (5th)
    Rebound Margin: +6 (3rd)

Top Players: (GPAC rank/NAIA rank-if top 10) *returning starter
    *Shandra Farmer-15.3ppg (7th), 3.7rpg, 21 3pters, 51 assists, 45 steals (3rd)
     *Mackenzie Willicott (HM All-GPAC)-12.4ppg, 4.9rpg, 24 steals
    *Holly Hild (2nd team all-GPAC) 7.3ppg, 37apg
    Gabby Grasso  6.7ppg, 3.7rpg
   
    No.14 Northwestern College: 8-2 (T2nd), 13-5 (5 straight)    Head Coach: Chris Yaw (7th year)

The Red Raiders have won a season-high five straight games, earning wins over Mount Marty, Midland and No.8 DWU in GPAC play and victories over San Diego Christian and Hope International in non-conference action.

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 78ppg (4th)
    Scoring Defense: 66ppg (6th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 48% (2nd/4th)
    3pt Percentage: 33% (7th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 76% (3rd)
    Rebound Margin: +7 (2nd)

Top Players: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10) *returning starter
    *Kassidy De Jong (All-American) 18.4ppg (2nd), 7.3rpg (8th), 30 assists
     *Darbi Gustafson (All-Conference)  15.8ppg (4th), 8.1rpg (2nd), 58% (3rd/10th)
     Anna Kiel (All-Conference)  15.4ppg, 73% FG, 4.3rpg
    *Renee Maneman  (All-Conference) 9.6ppg, 4.1rpg, 146 assists (1st /1st)
     *Haley Birks (All-Conference) 7.6ppg, 4.6rpg    
     *Paige Danner  7.4ppg, 28 3pters, 34 3pt % (10th)