Game Time...Ranked teams are set to square off as No.14 Northwestern plays host to No.8 Dakota Wesleyan for a key GPAC match-up Wednesday night, Jan. 10. Tip-off at the Bultman Center is scheduled for 6pm. Both team are tied for second, along with Hastings, in the current GPAC standings with a 7-2 league record. Northwestern has won a season-high four straight games and is 12-5 overall. DWU has won two straight, five of its last six, and is 15-3 on the year. 

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

All-Time...Northwestern has lost four straight to DWU but still leads the all-time series 37-16 (since 1982-83). The teams have split the last 10 match-ups. 

    Last Year...
        Northwestern lost 78-75 (H)
        Northwestern lost 81-72 (A)

Scouting Reports...

    No.8 Dakota Wesleyan Tigers: 7-2 (T2nd), 15-3 overall    Head Coach: Jason Christensen (8th year)

The Tigers have won two straight games to start the new year, defeating both Morningside (82-58) and College of Saint Mary (68-29) in GPAC play. They are tied with both Hastings and Northwestern for second place in the current GPAC standings with a 7-2 record, two games in back of unbeaten and top-ranked Concordia. DWU is 15-3 overall, losing only to #1 Concordia, #11 Hastings and #22 Taylor. 

Now in his eighth season as the DWU head coach, Christensen is already the program's winningest and longest tenured head coach. He came to DWU after a successful stint (9 years) as the head coach at Mount Vernon High School. Christensen returns four starters and eight players from a 2016-17 team that finished second in the GPAC at 15-5, 27-7 overall, tied for the third most wins in a single season. They lost to Eastern Oregon in the second round of the NAIA D-II Championship. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 84.6ppg (2nd / 6th)
    Scoring Defense: 58ppg (2nd)
    Field Goal Percentage: 49% (1st / 2nd)
    3pt Percentage: 37% (1st / 5th), 139 3pters (5th) 
    Free Throw Percentage: 78% (1st / 6th)
    Rebound Margin: +13 (1st / 2nd)

Top Players:  (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Amber Bray (2x All-Conference)  15.6ppg (5th), 58% FG (3rd /10th), 56% 3pt (1st /1st), 5.9rpg
    Ashley Bray (All-American, 3x All-Conf)  14.5ppg (9th), 59% FG (2nd / 9th), 48% 3pt (2nd)
    Kynedi Cheeseman 14.4ppg (10th), 41 3pters (7th), 4.1 rpg, 55 assists
    Riley Osthus  (All-Conference)  9.4ppg, 55% FG, 82 assists
   
    No.14 Northwestern College: 7-2 (T2nd), 12-5   Head Coach: Chris Yaw (7th)

The Red Raiders have won a season-best four straight games and have climbed to 14th in the national poll, its highest ranking of the season. Since a tough four-point loss to then No.2 Concordia on Dec. 15, Northwestern has wins over Hope International, San Diego Christian, Mount Marty and Midland. They are tied with Hastings and Concordia for second in the current GPAC standings with a 7-2 record, 12-5 overall. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 78.6ppg (4th)
    Scoring Defense: 67ppg (4th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 48% (2nd / 3rd)
    3pt Percentage: 32% (7th), 96 3pters (8th) 
    Free Throw Percentage: 75% (3rd)
    Rebound Margin: +6 (3rd)

Top Players:  (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Kassidy De Jong-19ppg (1st), 7.5rpg (5th), 49% FG (8th), 3 double-doubles
    Darbi Gustafson-15.8ppg (4th), 8.0rpg (2nd), 58% FG (4th) 4 double-doubles
    Anna Kiel-16.5ppg, 4.3rpg, 76% FG
    Renee Maneman-9.2ppg, 137 assists (1st / 1st)
    Paige Danner-7.8ppg, 28 3pters, 35% 3pt (10th)

Northwestern has shot better than its opponent in all but two games

Red Raiders have had the edge on the glass in all but four games, including six straight

De Jong ranks 16th all-time in career points (1,372) and has scored in double figures in 16 of 17 games played this season

Kiel is shooting 76% from the field and has scored in double figures in seven of her eight games played

Gustafson has four double-doubles this season; scored in double figures in all 17 games played; is nine rebounds shy of 500 for her career