No.10 Northwestern College outscored Dordt by eight in the fourth quarter to pull away and defeat Dordt 75-64 in a GPAC Quarterfinal played tonight in the Bultman Center.
The Red Raiders advance to the conference semifinals with a 22-7 overall record and will host ninth-ranked Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday, Feb.24 at 2pm.
Tied at 49 late in the third quarter,
Renee Maneman knocked down a three-pointer just before time expired to give the Red Raiders a 52-49 lead heading into the final period. Northwestern then scored the next eight points to start the fourth quarter en route to a 16-2 run, finished off by a three-pointer by
Paige Danner, for a 65-51 advantage. Maneman and
Darbi Gustafson combined for 13 of the 16 points scored by the Red Raiders during the run. The hosts led by double digits for the remainder of the game.
Maneman led all players with a career-high 25 points, making 10-of-22 field goal attempts, including matching her career-best with three three-pointers.
Kassidy De Jong tallied her seventh double-double of the season with 15 points and 15 rebounds, seven on the offensive end, and Gustafon also registered a double-double, her GPAC leading 10th of the season, with 13 points and 10 boards.
An early 7-0 run put Northwestern in front 12-4 after a three-point play by
Anna Kiel with three-minutes left in the opening quarter. Dordt scored the final basket of the period, a basket by Erika Feenstra, and began a 13-2 surge giving the Defenders a three-point lead (17-14) early in the second quarter.
Dordt continued to lead until, with the score 21-20, De Jong converted on a three-point play to begin a 7-3 surge to give the Red Raiders the lead back at intermission, 27-24.
Northwestern extended its lead to as much as five in the third quarter but the Defenders fought back, and following a three-point play by Ebby Prewitt, tied the game at 37. A three-pointer by Payton Harmsen moments later gave Dordt a 41-39 lead and the teams traded baskets over the next two minutes, until Maneman hit her go-ahead three-pointer at the end of the quarter.
The Red Raiders shot 42% for the game, 33% (5/15) from the three-point line. Northwestern held a big edge on the boards (44-33), nabbing 14 on the offensive glass. Maneman dished out a game-high five assists.
Dordt was led by Feenstra with 17 points, followed closely by Rachel Evavold with 16 and Prewitt with 12. The Defenders shot 37% for the game, 24% (5/21) from the three-point line. They close the season with a 14-17 record.
