Game Time...14th-ranked Northwestern College travels to Sioux City, Iowa to play Briar Cliff in a GPAC match-up this weekend. Tip-off on Saturday at the Newman Flanagan Center is set for 2pm. Northwestern has won a season-high six consecutive games and sits alone in second place in the current GPAC standings at 9-2, 14-5 overall. Briar Cliff has dropped two straight and is in sixth place in the GPAC with a 5-6 record, 8-13 overall.

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

All-Time...Northwestern leads the all-time series 58-35 and has won three of the last four games against BCU. 

Last Time vs the Chargers...Four Red Raiders scored in double figures in leading Northwestern to a 78-57 win over Briar Cliff on Dec.2 at the Bultman Center.

Darbi Gustafson and Kassidy De Jong scored 14 points each and pulled down seven and eight rebounds, respectively. Paige Danner drained three three-pointers en route to a 13-point effort and Anna Kiel netted 11 points in her season debut. 

The Red Raiders led from start to finish and held BCU to 36% from the field, 22% from the three-point arc. Northwestern shot 46% from the field. 

Briar Cliff was led by Johanna Vaske with 17 points and 10 rebounds and Taylor Wagner added 17 points, including a pair of three-pointers.

 Briar Cliff University: 5-6 (6th), 8-13      Head Coach: Mike Power (18th Season)

The Chargers have lost two consecutive games and are 2-6 over their last eight to fall into sixth place in the current GPAC standings with a 5-6 record, 8-13 overall. Since defeating College of Saint Mary and Mount Marty, BCU has lost to ranked teams, Concordia and Hastings, both by double digit scores. 

Power returns one starter and five players from a 2016-17 team that finished with a 14-17 overall record, 8-12 in the GPAC.

By the Numbers:  (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 68ppg (8th)
    Scoring Defense: 73ppg (8th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 43% (5th)
    3pt Percentage: 36% (3rd),  137 3pters (6th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 72% (6th)
    Rebound Margin: -2.5 (9th)
    
Top Players:  (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
Johanna Vaske-12.2ppg, 5.5rpg, 40 assists
Logan Ehlers- 11.3ppg, 6.1rpg, 42 blocks (1st / 5th)
Taylor Wagner- 9.5ppg, 3.4rpg
Alyssa Carley- 8.1ppg, 28 3pters

No.14 Northwestern College: 9-2 (2nd), 14-5 (6 straight)    Head Coach: Chris Yaw (7th year)

Northwestern has won a season-best six straight games and is in second place in the current GPAC standings with a 9-2 record, two games in back of unbeaten and top-ranked Concordia. The Red Raiders picked up wins over ranked teams, DWU and Hastings, last week, and has also defeated Midland, Mount Marty, San Diego Christian and Hope International during their current streak.

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 77.5ppg (4th)
    Scoring Defense: 65.4ppg (6th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 48% (2nd /3rd)
    3pt Percentage: 33% (7th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 75% (4th)
    Rebound Margin: 7 (3rd)

Top Players: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10) *returning starter
    *Kassidy De Jong (All-American) 18.2ppg (2nd), 7.5rpg (4th), 33 assists
     *Darbi Gustafson (All-Conference)  15.4ppg (4th), 8rpg (2nd), 58% (3rd/10th)
     Anna Kiel (All-Conference)  15.4ppg, 71% FG, 4.7rpg
    *Renee Maneman  (All-Conference) 9.4ppg, 4.1rpg, 154 assists (1st /1st)
     *Haley Birks (All-Conference) 7.9ppg, 4.5rpg    
     *Paige Danner  7.2ppg, 28 3pters,