Game Time... No.5 Northwestern College is in the midst of a GPAC title push at the midpoint of the conference schedule as they host Mount Marty Wednesday night at the Bultman Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 6pm. The Red Raiders are tied with Concordia for second in the current league standings at 9-2, just one game in back of first place Dakota Wesleyan, and are 15-2 overall. Mount Marty sits alone in 10th place in the current standings at 3-8, 9-8 overall. 

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

All-Time...Northwestern has won five straight in the rivalry, including a 94-82 road win over the Lancers earlier this season on Nov. 14 in Yankton, S.D. The Red Raiders are 8-2 over the last 10 games and lead the all-time series 57-22 against MMC.

Last Time vs Mount Marty...Kassidy De Jong, one of five Red Raiders to net double figures, scored a game-high 27 points in leading Northwestern to a 94-82 win over Mount Marty in a GPAC game played in Yankton, S.D. on Nov. 14. De Jong drained six of eight three-pointers and also dished out four assists. Sammy Blum and Darbi Gustafson both scored 17 while Haley Birks (14) and Bre Schuiteman (11) were also in double figures. Gustafson pulled down 11 rebounds for the double-double.

Tied at 55, Northwestern closed the third quarter with a 12-2 run to take control of the game for good. The Red Raiders led by as many as 14 in the final period and clinched it by going 9-for-9 from the free throw line.

Ali Kuca led the Lancers with 17 points and Karlee McKinney added 13.

Scouting Reports...

    Mount Marty Lancers: 3-8 (10th), 9-8 overall            Head Coach: Todd James Schlimgen (1st year)

The Lancers had their five-game win streak snapped last time out, falling to Morningside on the road, 89-63. Mount Marty is in 10th place in the current standings at 3-8, one game in back of both University of Jamestown and Briar Cliff. They picked up wins over Doane, Rio Grande (Ohio), Lake Forest College, Presentation and College of Saint Mary.

Schlimgen is in his first season as the head of the Lancers' program, taking over after serving as the long-time assistant under his father. Mount Marty returns four starters and 11 players from a 2017-18 team that finished ninth in the GPAC with a 3-17 record, 13-17 overall. They were picked 10th of 12 teams in the GPAC Coaches preseason poll.

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 72.2ppg (7th)
    Scoring Defense: 71.7ppg (10th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 43% (6th)
    3pt Percentage: 37% (3rd), 154 3pters (2nd) 
    Free Throw Percentage: 72% (5th)
    Rebound Margin: +3 (5th)

Top Players:  (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Karlee McKinney - 12.0ppg, 26 3pters, 49% 3pt (1st / 1st), 32 assists
    Ali Kuca (all-conference) - 11.5ppg, 54 3pters (2nd / 6th), 38% 3pt (5th)
    Jamie Tebben - 9.5ppg, 4.3rpg
    Sammy Kasowski (all-conference in 2017) - 8.8ppg, 52% FG, 6.6rpg
    Karissa Chamley (all-conference) - 7.2ppg, 4.2rpg

    No.5 Northwestern College Red Raiders: 9-2 (T2nd), 15-2 overall        Head Coach: Chris Yaw (8th year)

The Red Raiders lost to No.3 Concordia 93-85 last weekend to end their 12-game win streak and drop into a second place tie with the Bulldogs at 9-2 at the midpoint of the conference schedule. They are 15-2 overall and are one of eight GPAC teams recognized in the latest NAIA Coaches' poll. 

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 fifth in three-point percentage (38%)

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 seventh in the NAIA in scoring; the senior is closing in on the 2,000-point milestone

Both Darbi Gustafson (20th) and Haley Birks (25th) rank among the top 25 in career scoring with 1,321 and 1170 points, respectively

Sammy Blum ranks fifth in the GPAC with 44 three-pointers and sixth in the NAIA in three-point percentage (49%)

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 88.8ppg (1st / 3rd)
    Scoring Defense: 65.5ppg (4th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 49% (1st / 1st)
    3pt Percentage: 38% (2nd / 5th), 141 3pters (3rd)
    Free Throw Percentage: 77% (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 / 7th), 41 3pters (7th), 7.5rpg (4th)
     *Darbi Gustafson (All-Conference) 16.9ppg (6th), 57% (3rd / 9th), 8rpg (3rd), 19 blocks (7th)    
     *Haley Birks (All-Conference) 14.1ppg (10th), 85 FT % (2nd), 4rpg
     Sammy Blum - 11.4ppg, 44 3pters (5th), 49% 3pt (2nd / 6th), 61 assists (9th)