Game Time...No.2 Northwestern goes on the road to Crete, Neb. for a match-up against Doane the weekend. Tip-off on Saturday, Jan. 26 is scheduled for 2pm. The Red Raiders have won five straight and is tied with No.1 Concordia for first place in the GPAC with a 14-2 record, 20-2 overall. Doane has dropped two straight and is in 12th place in the conference at 1-15, 4-19 overall. 

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

Follow the live stats at this link: Live Stats

Listen to the game via Sioux Couty Radio at this link: Listen Now!

All-Time...Northwestern leads the all-time series 34-26 against the Tigers and has won six of the last 10 games against its rival from Crete, Neb.

Last Time vs Doane...Northwestern outscored Doane 28-3 in the first quarter en route to a 79-49 home win on Jan. 2 at the Bultman Center. The Red Raiders led 45-18 at the half and outscored Doane in each of the final two quarters as well. 

Kassidy De Jong scored 14 points and both Darbi Gustafson and Sammy Blum netted 13. Bre Schuiteman was the fourth and final Red Raider to score in double figures, adding 11 points and five rebounds. Northwestern shot 42% for the game, 20% (4/20) from the three-point line and outrebounded Doane 44-36.

Doane shot 28% for the game and was led by Emma Areman with 18 points.

Scouting Reports...

    Doane University Tigers: 1-15 (12th), 4-19 overall    Head Coach: Tracee Fairbanks (20th year)

The Tigers have lost two in row, falling to top-ranked Concordia 106-47 last time out, to drop to 1-15 in the GPAC, 4-19 overall. They are currently in 12th place in the conference standings, one half game in back of College of Saint Mary. Doane's lone GPAC win was a 68-62 double overtime victory over Hastings on Jan.16. The Tigers are 1-6 since the new year.

Fairbanks, now in her 20th season as the Tigers' head coach, returns one starter and eight players from a 2017-18 team that finished tied for 10th in the GPAC with a 2-18 record, 7-21 overall. They were picked 11th in the GPAC preseason poll. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 55 (12th)
    Scoring Defense: 72.9ppg (11th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 35% (12th)
    3pt Percentage: 30% (10th), 127 3pters (12th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 66% (9th)
    Rebound Margin: +2 (6th)

Top Players:  
    Haylee Heits (All-Conference)  14.3ppg, 41 3pters, 35% 3pt (10th), 5.4rpg
    Sidney Blackburn  7.8ppg, 32 3pters
    Emma Areman 6.7ppg, 5.7rpg, 93 assists (4th)
    McKenzie Beach 6.7ppg, 24 3pters

    No.2 Northwestern College: 14-2 (T1st), 20-2        Head Coach: Chris Yaw (8th year)

Northwestern has won five straight since losing to Concordia on Jan. 5, defeating three consecutive ranked opponents. Victories over then-No.1 Dakota Wesleyan, No.8 Morningside and No.14 Dordt over the last 10 days have put the Red Raiders in a first place tie with Concordia at 14-2 in the current GPAC standings, 20-2 overall. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 87.1ppg (2nd / 4th)
    Scoring Defense: 63.4ppg (2nd)
    Field Goal Percentage: 49% (1st / 1st)
    3pt Percentage: 38% (1st / 2nd), 177 3pters (5th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 76% (2nd / 10th)
    Rebound Margin: +12 (1st / 4th)

Top Players: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10) *returning starter
     *Kassidy De Jong (2x All-American) 18.4ppg (2nd), 50 3pters (7th), 8.1rpg (T1st)
     *Darbi Gustafson (All-Conference) 16.4ppg (6th), 54% (4th), 8.1rpg (T1st), 26 blocks (6th)    
     *Haley Birks (All-Conference) 13.3ppg, 85 FT % (4th), 3.8rpg
     Sammy Blum - 11.3ppg, 57 3pters (3rd), 48% 3pt (1st / 4th), 85 assists (5th)