The 11th-ranked Northwestern College women's basketball team began the 2019-20 season in impressive fashion, cruising to a pair of 30+ wins over the weekend in Palos Heights, Ill. The Red Raiders defeated Rochester (Mich.) 89-56 on Friday night and then came back to dominate Trinity Christian on Saturday 105-45. Both games were played as part of the Troll Classic on the campus of Trinity Christian College. 

    Friday night's win vs Rochester:

Erika Sage scored a career-high 16 points, making 4-of-10 three-pointers, and was one of four Red Raiders to score in double figures. 

Alexis Toering netted 14 and pulled down six rebounds; Sammy Blum scored 11 and Emilee Danner poured in 10, draining two three-pointers, in her collegiate debut.

A pair of free throws by Toering sparked an early 8-0 run and put Northwestern up for good (11-4) with 3:22 left in the first quarter.

Danner knocked down a three-pointer to put the Red Raiders up 11 with 36 seconds left in the first quarter; they led 21-11 by quarters end.

A three-pointer by Blum capped a 13-2 run that put Northwestern up 34-13 at the six-minute mark of the second quarter. They led 47-24 at the half.

Three-pointers by Blum and Schuiteman along with a steal and lay-up by Toering gave the Red Raiders a 55-26 advantage in the opening minutes of the third quarter. The teams traded baskets the rest of the period as Northwestern held a 70-43 lead as the quarter ended.

Consecutive baskets by Devyn Kemble and Blum put Northwestern up by 32 with nine minutes left and a basket by Abigail Clark gave the Red Raiders their largest lead, 33 points, at the end of the game. 

Northwestern shot 43% for the game, 31% (13/42) from the arc; they forced Rochester into 33 turnovers and held a big edge on the boards (41-29). 

Taylor VanderVelde pulled down a game-high eight rebounds and was one of five NWC players with three assists.

Rochester shot 49% for the game and was led by Maddie Beck with 13 points

    Saturday's Win vs Trinity Christian:

Four Red Raiders scored in double figures, led by Schuiteman with 16 points, making 4-of-8 three-pointers.

Danner scored in double figures for the second straight game, netting 15 to go with four rebounds and three assists. 

Kemble added a career-best 11 points and Blum added 10. Toering pulled down a team-high seven rebounds and VanderVelde dished out seven assists. 

Northwestern shot 56% for the game, 14/30 (47%) the three-point line; Coach Yaw's squad dominated the glass for the second consecutive game, outrebounding Trinity 41-25. 

The Red Raiders opened the game with a 13-5 surge and quickly pushed their lead to as much as 17 (29-12) following a lay-up by Jada Cunningham.

Northwestern scored the final 11 points of the first half for a 56-29 advantage at the break.

Trinity Christian was led by Summer Cramer with 14 points, making 3-of-6 three-pointers; the Trolls shot 29% for the game.