Four Red Raiders scored in double figures as No. 8 Northwestern dominated Friends from start to finish for a 94-55 win Friday night at the Bultman Center.  Northwestern improves to 2-0 on the year and the Falcons come short in their season opener. 

Darbi Gustafson poured in a game-high 21 points to lead Coach Yaw's squad for the second straight game. The senior also pulled down 10 rebounds for her second double-double this season. Haley Birks and Kassidy De Jong both scored 17 points and Sammy Blum netted 13 points to go with a career-best eight assists. 

Northwestern shot 54% for the game and held a commanding 55-21 edge on the boards, led by Gustafson and Schuiteman, who also tallied a career-best 10 boards. 

All five Red Raider starters scored during an 18-4 run to start the game and the hosts led 30-11 by the end of the first quarter. Another 10-2 surge, finished off with baskets by Birks and Blum, gave Northwestern its largest lead of the half, 48-20, with three minutes left prior to the break. The hosts led 50-29 by halftime and shot 5% in the opening 20 minutes compared to 33% by Friends.

Up 24 (59-35) midway through the third quarter, Northwestern outscored Friends 18-9 for a 77-44 lead by period's end on a lay-up by Blum after a steal and assist from Alexis Toering. A basket by Birks pushed the Red Raider lead to as much as 40 (86-46) with six minutes left in the final quarter.

Northwestern totaled 22 assists and 19 steals, forcing 29 turnovers by Friends. Toering accounted for a team-high four steals and also dished out a career-best three assists. The Red Raiders outscored Friends in every quarter.

Friends shot 32% for the game, 20% (3/15) from the arc, and was led by Lexi Evans with 12 points. Daija Styles added 11 points and three rebounds.

The Red Raiders will host #16 Valley City State on Saturday at 1pm.