Game Time... No.8 Northwestern will host Dordt on Wednesday night, Nov. 28, for a GPAC match-up, beginning at 6pm. This is the first of two games to be played between the two teams during the regular season and resumes the Sioux County Showdown Series, a point-based athletic and academic competition between the two long-time rivals. Northwestern, 3-1 in the GPAC, 7-1 overall, has won four straight games. Dordt, 2-2 in conference play and 7-2 overall, has won two straight.
more about the
Sioux County Showdown Series
Follow the game live, via the NWC webcast, at this link:
Watch Now!
All-Time...The Red Raiders lead the all-time series 69-20 and are 4-1 in the last five games against Dordt. Last year, Northwestern won both regular season meetings and also picked up a 75-64 win in the GPAC Quarterfinals at the Bultman Center.
Scouting Report...
Dordt College: 2-2 (GPAC), 7-2 overall Head Coach: Bill Harmsen (1st year)
The Defenders won their first five games of the season, including an 87-75 road win over Mount Marty in their GPAC opener. They are 2-2 since, losing to ranked teams (#11 Morningside and #2 Dakota Wesleyan), and defeating College of Saint Mary and Dakota State. Last time out, sophomore Erika Feenstra scored 32 points and pulled down 13 rebounds in leading the Defenders to an 89-62 road win over DSU.
Harmsen takes over the Defenders' program after a stellar career coaching both girls and boys basketball at Western Christian High School. Harmsen won three state titles in five years with the Wolfpack women's team and then guided Western to the boys title in his first year (2017). He inherits a Dordt team that returns all five starters and 10 players from a 2017-18 team that finished seventh in the GPAC with an 8-12 record, 14-17 overall.
By the Numbers: (GPAC /
NAIA rank-if top 10)
Scoring Offense: 85.2ppg (3rd / 6th)
Scoring Defense: 66.4ppg (7th)
Field Goal Percentage: 46% (3rd / 7th)
3pt Percentage: 36% (5th), 80 3pters (3rd / 8th)
Free Throw Percentage: 69% (7th)
Rebound Margin: +12 (2nd / 10th)
Top Players: (GPAC /
NAIA rank-if top 10)
Erika Feenstra (All-Conference) 23.7ppg (1st / 1st), 63% FG (1st / 2nd), 8.4rpg (3rd)
Annie Rhinesmith (All-Conference) 14.1ppg (10th), 20 3pters (9th), 42% 3pt (10th), 44 assists (3rd / 9th)
Payton Harmsen - 10.4ppg, 28 3pters (2nd / 6th), 40% 3pt
Rachel Evavold (All-Conference) - 10ppg, 52% FG, 7.3rpg (6th)
#8 Northwestern College: 3-1 (GPAC), 7-1 Head Coach: Chris Yaw (8th year)
The Red Raiders have won four straight games since its 76-73 road loss to #2 Dakota Wesleyan on Nov. 7. They have since defeated College of Saint Mary, Mount Marty, #11 Morningside and Waldorf, the last three on the road. Northwestern is one of six GPAC teams ranked in the top 20 according to the NAIA preseason poll and was picked third in the GPAC preseason coaches' poll.
Coach Yaw's team features three players who have scored 1,000 points in their career;
Kassidy De Jong,
Darbi Gustafson and
Haley Birks. De Jong ranks ninth all-time in career scoring, just passing Karen (Hutson) Ettleman last time out against Waldorf. Gustafson is 23rd all-time in scoring and Birks ranks 29th. Both De Jong and Gustafson have scored in double figures in all eight games this season.
By the Numbers: (GPAC /
NAIA rank-if top 10)
Scoring Offense: 90.2ppg (1st / 3rd)
Scoring Defense: 65.1ppg (6th)
Field Goal Percentage: 50% (1st / 1st)
3pt Percentage: 40% (3rd / 7th), 69 3pters (4th)
Free Throw Percentage: 77% (2nd / 9th)
Rebound Margin: +15 (1st / 4th)
Top Players: (GPAC /
NAIA rank-if top 10)
Kassidy De Jong (3x All-American) 19.6ppg (4th), 49% FG (9th), 24 3pters (3rd), 8rpg (4th)
Darbi Gustafson (2x All-Conference) 19ppg (5th), 58% FG (4th), 8.6rpg (2nd)
Haley Birks (3x All-Conference) 14.4ppg, 91% FT (1st / 5th), 4rpg
Sammy Blum - 9.6ppg, 18 3pters (7th), 28 assists (8th)
Alexis Toering - 8.9ppg, 3.9rpg, 19 steals (7th)
Up Next... Northwestern will host Briar Cliff on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 2pm.
