Game Time... A match-up of top five teams will be played this weekend as No.5 Northwestern travels to Seward, Neb. for a showdown against No.3 Concordia. Tip-off on Saturday, Jan. 5 is set for 2pm. Northwestern has won 12 straight and is 9-1 in the GPAC, 15-1 overall. Concordia is 8-2 in the conference, 14-2 overall. 

Follow the game, via the Concordia webcast, at this link: Watch Now!  Live Stats!

All-Time...Northwestern has lost seven consecutive games against Concordia and is just 1-9 in the last 10 games played against its league rival. Last year, Northwestern dropped all three games to the Bulldogs, 84-80 and 80-67 during the regular season, and 84-77 in the national semifinals. The Red Raiders trail the all-time series 24-35. 

Scouting Reports...

    No.3 Concordia Bulldogs: 8-2 (3rd), 14-2 overall                Head Coach: Drew Olson (13th year)

Concordia had its five-game win streak snapped last time out, losing to Dordt 97-92 in double overtime in a match-up played Wednesday night in Sioux Center. Concordia opened up an early 20+-point lead in the first half but was outscored 26-14 in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime tied at 77. The Bulldogs had won five straight games prior to Wednesday's loss, including a 59-51 win over No.2 Southeastern (Fla.) on a neutral floor on Dec. 28. Concordia is 14-2 overall, also losing to No.8 Morningside at home on Nov. 28.

Olson, in his 13th season as the Bulldogs head coach, was named the GPAC Coach of the Year after guiding his team to the regular and postseason titles last season, going 19-1 in conference play. He led Concordia to a national runner-up finish, losing to Dakota Wesleyan in the title game, to finish 36-2. Three starters, including two All-Americans, and seven players return from last year's team. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 87.6ppg (2nd / 4th)
    Scoring Defense: 63.9ppg (4th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 43% (5th)
    3pt Percentage: 30% (9th), 132 3pters (5th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 70% (6th)
    Rebound Margin: +1 (8th)

Concordia leads the NAIA with 322 steals and turnovers forced (31); five Bulldog players rank among the GPAC's top 10 in steals

Top Players:  
    Taylor Cockerill (All-Conference) -  15.9ppg (7th), 31 3pters, 37% 3pt (8th), 4.1rpg
    Philomena Lammers (2x All-American) - 14.3ppg (9th), 62% FG (2nd / 2nd), 6.8rpg (6th), 24 blocks (3rd)
    Grace Barry - 11.4ppg, 92 assists (2nd / 2nd), 65 steals (1st / 1st)
    Quinn Wragge (2x All-American) - 11ppg, 5.1rpg, 36 steals (T4th)

No.5 Northwestern College Red Raiders: 9-1 (T1st), 15-1    Head Coach: Chris Yaw (8th year)

The Red Raiders pushed their win streak to 12 with a convincing 79-49 home win over Doane Wednesday night, improving to 9-1 in the GPAC, 15-1 overall. Four players scored in double figures, led by Kassidy De Jong with 14 points. Darbi Gustafson and Sammy Blum scored 13 each and Breana Schuiteman added 11. This is the longest win streak by the Red Raiders since 18 straight at the beginning of the 2013-14 season.

Northwestern's only loss was a three-point setback to No.1 Dakota Wesleyan in a game played in Mitchell, S.D. on Nov. 7.

Northwestern leads the NAIA in field goal percentage and has shot better than its opponent in all but two games this season

One of the top rebounding teams in the NAIA (2nd), Northwestern has outrebounded its opponent in all but three games

De Jong has scored in double figures in every game; Gustafson in all but one game

Gustafson leads the GPAC with seven double-doubles; the senior moved into the top 20 in career scoring last time out, passing Jackie Olson (1996-00); Gustafson has 1313 career points

By the Numbers: (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 89.1ppg (1st / 3rd)
    Scoring Defense: 63.7ppg (3rd)
    Field Goal Percentage: 49% (1st / 1st)
    3pt Percentage: 38% (1st / 6th), 133 3pters (3rd)
    Free Throw Percentage: 77% (2nd / 10th)
    Rebound Margin: +12 (1st / 2nd)

Top Players:  (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Kassidy De Jong (3x All-American) 19.3ppg (2nd / 7th), 51% FG (6th), 40 3pters (6th), 7.4rpg (5th)
    Darbi Gustafson (2x All-Conference) 17.5ppg (5th), 58% FG (4th / 10th), 8.1rpg (3rd)    
    Haley Birks (3x All-Conference)  14.2ppg, 85% FT (2nd), 3.9rpg
    Sammy Blum - 11.2ppg, 42 3pters (4th), 58 assists (9th)
    Breana Schuiteman - 8.3ppg, 24 3pters, 35% 3pt