Game Time... Fifth-ranked Northwestern College plays host to No.25 Midland this weekend in a conference match-up between ranked teams. Tip-off at the Bultman Center is scheduled for 2pm. Northwestern has won six straight games and is in third place in the current GPAC standings with a 5-1 record, 9-1 overall. Midland brings a two-game win streak into the weekend and is tied with Dordt for sixth in the GPAC at 4-3, 7-4 overall. 

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

All-Time...Northwestern is 39-14 all-time against Midland, dating back to the 1977-78 season. The Red Raiders have won five straight in the rivalry and are 9-1 over the last 10. Last year, Northwestern swept the Warriors 92-61 and 92-72. 

Scouting Reports...

    No.25 Midland Warriors: 4-3 (T6th), 7-4                Head Coach: Shawn Gilbert (6th year)

The Warriors earned a 63-58 road win over No.8 Morningside last time out (Dec.5) to move above .500 in the GPAC at 4-3. They are 7-4 overall and are one of the nine teams from the Great Plains Athletic Conference recognized in the recent NAIA Coaches' poll. Within conference play, Midland has wins over Doane, Mount Marty, College of Saint Mary and Morningside; losses to Concordia, Dakota Wesleyan and Hastings.

Gilbert, a former assistant at the University of Nebraska, is in his sixth season as the head of the Warriors program. He also spent time as the head coach at Mount Mercy for six years, leading teams to the NAIA D-II Championship several times. Gilbert returns three starters and 10 players from a 2017-18 team that finished sixth in the GPAC with a 9-11 record, 14-17 overall.

By the Numbers: (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 68.5ppg (8th)
    Scoring Defense: 63.7ppg (3rd)
    Field Goal Percentage: 39% (9th)
    3pt Percentage: 29% (10th), 74 3pters (9th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 71% (6th)
    Rebound Margin: +5 (5th)

Top Players:  (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Maddie Egr (All-Conference)  14.7ppg (10th), 50% FG (9th), 7.4rpg (7th) 13 blocks (4th)
    Amanda Hansen (2x All-Conference)  11.4ppg, 3.3rpg, 26 steals (5th)
    Lexis Haase  7.8ppg, 13 3pters, 4.5rpg
    Madison Severson  7.1ppg, 13 3pters, 30 assists

    No.5 Northwestern College:  5-1 (3rd), 9-1                    Head Coach: Chris Yaw (8th year)

The Red Raiders have won six straight games, three against ranked teams, heading into the weekend against Midland. They have wins over No.8 Morningside, #15 Dordt and #20 University of Jamestown during the streak. Northwestern's lone loss was on the road to #2 Dakota Wesleyan.

Northwestern has outrebounded its opponent in seven of 10 games; they have shot better from the field than their opponent in all but two games. 

Both Kassidy De Jong and Darbi Gustafson have scored in double figures in all 10 games and both have five 20+-point games. Gustafson leads the team with five double-doubles. Haley Birks has scored in double figures in eight games and all three players have scored 1,000 points in their career. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 88.6ppg (1st / 3rd)
    Scoring Defense: 67.6ppg (6th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 49% (1st / 1st)
    3pt Percentage: 37% (2nd / 9th), 76 3pters (7th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 76% (2nd / 10th)
    Rebound Margin: +13 (1st / 4th)

Top Players:  (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Kassidy De Jong (3x All-American)  20.5ppg (2nd / 4th), 50% FG (9th), 26 3pters (4th), 8rpg (T2nd)
    Darbi Gustafson (2x All-Conference)  18.8ppg (T4th), 56% FG (4th), 8.5rpg (1st)
    Haley Birks (3x All-Conference)  15.7ppg, 85% FT (2nd), 4rpg
    Sammy Blum - 9.9ppg, 22 3pters (8th), 31 assists (10th)
    Alexis Toering - 7.5ppg, 4rpg, 20 steals 

Up Next... Northwestern will host (RV) Briar Cliff on Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 6pm.