Game Time...10th-ranked Northwestern looks to extend its win streak to nine as they play host to College of Saint Mary this weekend in GPAC play. Tip-off on Saturday, Jan. 27, is scheduled for 2pm. Northwestern sits alone in second place in the current GPAC standings with an 11-2 record, 16-5 overall. The Flames are 11th in the current league standings with a 1-13 mark, 3-20 overall. 

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

All-Time...Northwestern leads the all-time series 10-4 and has won three straight and four of the last five in the rivalry. 

Earlier This Season...Darbi Gustafson and Kassidy De Jong scored 16 points each in leading No.15 Northwestern College to a 75-61 road win over College of Saint Mary in a GPAC match-up played in Omaha, Neb. on Dec. 9. 

De Jong, who also pulled down a team-high nine rebounds, made 8-of-11 free throw attempts en route to a 16-point effort. Gustafson went 4-for-7 from the field and converted 8-of-10 free throws. 

Down by one (27-26) in the second quarter, Kiel scored six consecutive points to put the Red Raiders in front for good (32-27) with 4:47 left in the first half. Northwestern held a one-point lead at halftime, 39-35.

A four point game (45-41) midway in the third, Northwestern put the Flames away with a 10-2 run, capped by a couple of free throws by De Jong to put her team up 55-43. The Red Raiders extended their lead to 13 early in the fourth after a basket by Haley Birks and went up by as much as 16 (72-56) on a jumper by Kiel with three minutes left. 

Northwestern shot 48% for the game and 71% (22/31) from the free throw line but struggled from beyond the arc, making 3-of-17 attempts. The Red Raiders had a big advantage on the boards (33-18), led by De Jong (9) and Gustafson (8). Both Birks and Renee Maneman dished out four assists. 

College of Saint Mary was led by Miranda Acuna with 20 points, including three three-pointers. Corryne Millett was also in double figures with 10.

Scouting Reports...

    College of Saint Mary Flames: 1-13 (11th GPAC), 3-20  Head Coach: Jesse Flanagan (3rd year)

CSM has dropped two straight games overall and eight consecutive GPAC games to fall to 1-13 in the conference, 3-20 overall. Their last two wins were both in non-conference play, an 84-71 victory over Mount Mercy on Dec. 16 and an 89-46 victory over Grace last week (Jan.19). The Flames lone GPAC win was a 58-57 overtime victory over Doane in December. They lost to Mount Marty and Doane most recently.

Flanagan, now in his third season as the Flames' head coach, took over the program in 2015 after a stint as high school boys coach in the Omaha area. He returns two starters and five players from a 2016-17 squad that finished 11th in the GPAC with a 2-18 record, 7-22 overall. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 63ppg (10th)
    Scoring Defense: 78.6ppg (11th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 36% (11th)
    3pt Percentage: 29% (9th), 126 3pters (9th) 
    Free Throw Percentage: 70% (10th)
    Rebound Margin: -9 (11th)

Top Players:  (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Miranda Acuna-14ppg, 37 3pters, 3.6rpg, 39 assists
    Tyler Sumpter-13.3ppg, 32 3pters, 40% 3pt, 3.2rpg
    Corryne Millett-6.1ppg, 46% FG, 4.0rpg
    A'leah Davis-6ppg, 3.8rpg
    Keona Cadore-6ppg, 2.9rpg

No.10 Northwestern College: 11-2 (2nd), 16-5 (8 straight)    Head Coach: Chris Yaw (7th year)

Northwestern has won eight straight games, its longest win streak since opening the 2013-14 season with 18 consecutive wins. They are in sole possession of second place in the current GPAC standings with an 11-2 record, 16-5 overall, with all five losses to ranked teams. The Red Raiders have climbed into the NAIA D-II top 10 for the first time since the final coaches' poll in 2013-14 when they finished third. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 77.6ppg (4th)
    Scoring Defense: 64.8ppg (3rd)
    Field Goal Percentage: 49% (2nd /3rd)
    3pt Percentage: 34% (7th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 75% (5th)
    Rebound Margin: 7 (3rd)

Top Players: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10) *returning starter
    *Kassidy De Jong (All-American) 18.2ppg (2nd), 7.6rpg (T3rd), 33 assists
     *Darbi Gustafson (All-Conference)  14.4ppg, 7.8rpg (2nd), 58% (3rd)
     Anna Kiel (All-Conference)  15.3ppg (6th), 68% FG, 5.3rpg
    *Renee Maneman  (All-Conference) 9.3ppg, 4rpg, 181 assists (1st /1st)
     *Haley Birks (All-Conference) 8.2ppg, 4.3rpg    
     *Paige Danner  7.1ppg, 32 3pters, 36% 3pt FG (9th)