Kassidy De Jong netted a game-high 29 points in leading No.8 Northwestern past Valley City State 96-82 in non-conference match-up between ranked teams played this afternoon at the Bultman Center. The Red Raiders improve to 3-0 on the season while No. 16 Valley City State drops its second straight and moves to 1-3 overall.

De Jong made 10-of-18 field goal attempts, going 3-for-5 from beyond the arc, en route to a season-high 29 points. The senior also pulled down five boards and dished out two assists. Darbi Gustafson finished one board shy of her third double-double in as many games with 21 points and nine rebounds before fouling out. Sammy Blum scored all 12 of her points from beyond the arc and Alexis Toering had an outstanding effort with a career-best 12 points, five boards, one assist and one steal. 

Up 18-17 at the start of the second quarter, Valley City State scored the first five points of the second frame to take their only lead, 21-18, with 8:49 left in the half. A basket by Gustafson followed by a three-pointer by De Jong ignited a 14-0 Northwestern run, however, as the Red Raiders surged ahead for good. Coach Yaw's squad extended their lead to as much as 25 after a basket by Taylor VanderVelde just before the half and led 54-31 at the break.

Northwestern outscored the Vikings 36-9 over the final eight-plus minutes and shot 63% for the opening half.

The lead stayed 20-or-more for most of the third quarter as the teams traded baskets. Up by 22 in the fourth, Valley City State outscored the Red Raiders 12-2 to get within 12, the closest the Vikings would get the rest of the way. 

Northwestern shot 54% from the field, 48% (10/21) from the three-point line and made 24-of-32 free throw attempts. The Red Raiders held a slight edge (36-33) on the boards and totaled 11 steals, led by Haley Birks and Bre Schuiteman with three.

Valley City State shot 44% from the field and was led by Mackenzie Huber with 23 points, one of four Vikings players in double figures. Alli Vandal netted 15 and ripped down seven boards. Valley City State shot just 28% from the arc.

Northwestern will begin GPAC play on Wednesday night when they head to Mitchell, S.D. to play defending national champion Dakota Wesleyan.