11th-ranked Northwestern was outscored by 10 in the second half in losing to #5 Dordt University 92-84 in a fast-paced, high intensity match-up between ranked teams played tonight in Sioux Center, Iowa.
Hannah Nerem netted 17 of her career-high 18 points in helping Northwestern gain a slight 45-43 halftime lead. Nerem missed just one shot in the first half, going 8-for-9 from the floor, and shared team-high honors with
Sammy Blum, who also poured in 18.
Both teams shot well from the field but struggled from beyond the arc over the first 20 minutes. Northwestern was 53% from the field but just 2-of-12 from the three-point line; Dordt was even better from the field (59%) but worse (0/7) from the three-point arc.
Much like the first half, the third quarter featured the teams trading baskets and playing at a frenetic pace. Tied for the sixth and final time in the third quarter (67-67), a put-back by Baylee Tetzlaff put the Defenders up for good, 69-67, at quarters end.
Defenders guard Ebby Prewitt and Blum scored for their respective teams to make the score 71-69 at the nine-minute mark of the final period. Dordt then put the game away with a decisive 10-3 run, finished off with a basket by Rachel Evavold, for a 83-72 lead with five minutes left. Northwestern responded by scoring the next seven points, five by Blum and two by
Alexis Toering, to cut the Defenders lead to four (83-79) but would get no closer.
Northwestern shot 52% for the game, 21% (4/19) from the three-point line and 78% (14/18) from the free throw line. Toering (17 points) and
Taylor VanderVelde (12 points) gave the Red Raiders four in double figures. Toering led hte rebounding effort with eight and both VanderVelde and
Jada Cunningham dished out five assists.
Erika Feenstra and Karly Gustafson scored 23 points each to lead the Defenders; Bailey Beckman scored 12. Dordt shot 53% for the game, 21% (3/14) from the three-point line, and held a commanding 41-29 edge on the boards, pulling down 14 on the offensive glass. The host Defenders improve to 2-1 in the GPAC, 8-1 overall.
Northwestern (2-1, 6-1) will host the University of Jamestown Saturday afternoon at 4pm in the Bultman Center.
