Game Time... An early season match-up between top 10 teams occurs Wednesday night as No.8 Northwestern travels to Mitchell, S.D. to play No.2 Dakota Wesleyan in the GPAC opener for both teams. Tip-off at the Corn Palace is scheduled for 6pm. Both teams are unbeaten on the season and come in with 3-0 records. 

Follow the game live via the Dakota Wesleyan broadcast at the following link: Watch Now!

All-Time... Since the 1982-83 season, Northwestern owns a 38-19 lead in the all-time series but is 4-6 in the last 10 games against the Tigers. They have lost three straight road games to DWU, not winning at the Corn Palace since the 2014-15 season. Last year, the teams split during the regular season and DWU then earning a win in the GPAC semi's in Orange City.

Scouting Reports...

    No. 2 Dakota Wesleyan Tigers: 3-0            Head Coach: Jason Christensen (9th year)

The Tigers have opened the season with wins over three teams from the North Star Athletic Association, Valley City State, Dakota State and Presentation. After a five-point win in the opener against No.16 VCSU, DWU cruised to double-digit wins in the other two games. 

Christensen, now in his ninth season as the head coach of the Tigers program, returns two starters and seven players from a 2017-18 team that won the NAIA D-II National Championship with a 32-6 record. They finished tied with Northwestern for second in the GPAC with a 16-4 record and were picked to finish second, behind Concordia, in the preseason poll.

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 85.7ppg (6th)
    Scoring Defense: 56ppg (3rd)
    Field Goal Percentage: 51% (2nd / 4th)
    3pt Percentage: 38% (4th), 21 3pters (7th) 
    Free Throw Percentage: 90% (1st / 1st)
    Rebound Margin: +11 (3rd)

Top Players:  (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Kynedi Cheeseman (All-Conference) 18.3ppg (6th), 7 3pters, 5.3 rpg, 12 assists (8th)
    Makaela Karst  15.3ppg, 5 3pters, 42% 3pt, 4.3rpg
    Sarah Carr  15ppg, 4 3pters, 4.7rpg
    Riley Osthus  (3x All-Conference)  14ppg, 17 assists (3rd)

    No.8 Northwestern College Red Raiders: 3-0        Head Coach: Chris Yaw (8th year)

The Red Raiders also own a 3-0 record and defeated two of the same opponents as DWU (Dakota State and Valley City State). They have scored over 90 points in all three games and all three wins have been by double-digits.

Northwestern was picked to finish third in the GPAC preseason poll and opens the year ranked eighth in the NAIA coaches poll

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 96.3ppg (1st / 6th)
    Scoring Defense: 65ppg (7th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 51% (1st / 3rd)
    3pt Percentage: 38% (3rd), 23 3pters (4th) 
    Free Throw Percentage: 75% (T3rd)
    Rebound Margin: +22 (1st / 8th)

Top Players:  (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Darbi Gustafson (2x All-Conference)  23.7ppg (2nd / 5th), 61% FG, 10.7rpg (3rd), 7 blocks (2nd / 9th)
    Kassidy De Jong (3x All-American)  19.7ppg (4th), 7rpg (7th) 9 assists
    Haley Birks (2x All-Conference)  14.3ppg, 5rpg
    Sammy Blum 11.7ppg, 8 3pters (6th), 18 assists (1st / 10th)
    Alexis Toering  7.3ppg, 5rpg

Up Next...Northwestern will host College of Saint Mary (Neb.) on Saturday, Nov. 10 in another conference match-up. Tip-off is scheduled at 5pm.