Game Time... No.3 Northwestern College returns to action this weekend as they play College of Saint Mary (Neb.) for a GPAC match-up in Omaha, Neb. Tip-off at the Lied Fitness Center is scheduled for 2pm. Northwestern is tied with Concordia for second place in the current GPAC standings with a 10-2 record, 16-2 overall. The Flames are in 11th place in the GPAC, owning a 1-10 league record, 2-16 overall.

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

All-Time...The Red Raiders have won five straight and lead the all-time series 12-4, dating back to the 1984-85 season. 

Last Time...A 24-1 early first quarter run provided the spark in leading Northwestern to an 89-44 win over the Flames in a game played earlier this season (Nov.10) at the Bultman Center. Down 4-0, the Red Raiders scored 24 of the next 25 points and led 24-11 by the end of the first quarter. Another 15-2 surge just before halftime put Northwestern in front 49-20 by the break and the Red Raiders outscored the Flames in each of the final two quarters.

Kassidy De Jong accounted for 17 points and 13 rebounds and both Darbi Gustafson (14pts) and Sammy Blum (11pts) were also in double figures for Coach Yaw's squad. The Red Raiders held a commanding 56-26 edge on the boards, pulling down 25 on the offensive end. 

Lynsey Curran led the Flames with 10 points, followed by Veronica Kobza with seven.

College of Saint Mary Flames: 1-10 (11th GPAC), 2-16 overall        Head Coach: Kirk Walker (1st year)

CSM has dropped seven consecutive games since earning its lone win in conference play, a 68-67 road victory over Doane on Nov. 28. They are 1-10 and in 11th place in the GPAC, 2-16 overall. The Flames have lost to both Mount Marty (102-59) and Dakota Wesleyan (84-55) since the new year.

Walker, a long-time high school coach, took over the Flames' program last spring from former head coach Jesse Flanagan. He inherits a team that returns three starters and nine players from 2017-18 team that finished tied for 10th place in the GPAC at 2-18, 5-25 overall. They were picked to finish 12th in the preseason GPAC poll. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 61.4ppg (11th)
    Scoring Defense: 80.3ppg (12th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 37% (11th)
    3pt Percentage: 30% (9th), 117 3pters (9th) 
    Free Throw Percentage: 63% (12th)
    Rebound Margin: -10 (12th)

Top Players:  (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Trista Merrival - 12.1ppg, 36 3pters (10th), 37% 3pt (9th), 48 assists
    Alyssa Laudato - 10.9ppg, 22 3pters, 53 assists (10th)
    Corryne Millet - 10.6ppg, 6.0rpg
    Lynsey Curran - 10.1ppg, 44 3pters (6th), 31% 3pt

No.3 Northwestern Red Raiders: 10-2 (T2nd), 16-2 overall        Head Coach: Chris Yaw (8th year)

Northwestern led from start to finish in defeating Mount Marty 88-58 Wednesday night at the Bultman Center. Five Red Raiders scored in double figures, led by Kassidy De Jong with 19 points, as the Red Raiders swept the season series against the Lancers. Northwestern maintained its tie for second place in the GPAC standings, along with Concordia, at 10-2, 16-2 overall.

Northwestern is the top scoring team in the GPAC and rank third in the NAIA in points per game (88.8)

The Red Raiders are first in the nation in field goal percentage (49%) and second in three-point percentage (39%)

Coach Yaw's squad is fourth in the NAIA in rebounding (+12)

Kassidy De Jong has scored in double figures in every game and ranks eighth in the NAIA in scoring; the senior is closing in on the 2,000-point milestone

Both Darbi Gustafson (18th) and Haley Birks (24th) rank among the top 25 in career scoring with 1,321 and 1170 points, respectively

Birks pulled down her 500th career rebound last time out, becoming the 32nd player to reach the milestone within the program

Sammy Blum ranks fourth in the GPAC with 47 three-pointers and first in the NAIA in three-point percentage (50%)

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 88.8ppg (1st / 3rd)
    Scoring Defense: 65.1ppg (3rd)
    Field Goal Percentage: 49% (1st / 1st)
    3pt Percentage: 39% (1st / 2nd), 151 3pters (5th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 76% (2nd)
    Rebound Margin: +12 (1st / 4th)

Top Players: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10) *returning starter
     *Kassidy De Jong (2x All-American) 19.1ppg (2nd / 8th), 43 3pters (7th), 7.6rpg (4th)
     *Darbi Gustafson (All-Conference) 16.9ppg (6th), 56% (4th / 10th), 7.8rpg (3rd), 19 blocks (7th)    
     *Haley Birks (All-Conference) 13.8ppg (10th), 85 FT % (5th), 4rpg
     Sammy Blum - 11.4ppg, 47 3pters (4th), 50% 3pt (1st / 1st), 64 assists (8th)