Game Time...The top two teams match-up this weekend as No.2 Northwestern hosts No.1 Concordia at the Bultman Center on Saturday, Feb. 2. Tip-off is scheduled for 2pm. Northwestern is tied with Dakota Wesleyan for second place in the GPAC with a 14-3 record, 20-3 overall. Concordia is leading the GPAC with a 15-2 record, 23-2 overall. 

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All-Time...Northwestern has dropped eight straight against Concordia and is just 1-9 in the last 10 games played against its league rival. The Red Raiders trail the all-time series 24-35.

Earlier This Year...Northwestern lost to the Bulldogs 93-85 in a game played on Jan. 5 at the Walz Arena in Seward, Neb. Kassidy De Jong, one of five players to score in double figures, led the Red Raiders with 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Sammy Blum contributed 14 points, three rebounds and three assists while Haley Birks, Anna Kiel and Jada Cunningham all netted 12 points each. 

Northwestern scored the first six points after baskets by Birks and Blum (2) as the visitors jumped out to a 15-8 advantage at the six-minute mark. With the Red Raiders still leading by six, Concordia began an 18-2 run, forcing Northwestern into 10 turnovers and just three field goal attempts over a four-minute span, to take a 30-22 lead by quarters end. 

Down eight (37-29) midway through the second quarter, Blum scored on a runner in the lane to cap a 13-3 Northwestern run, giving the Red Raiders a 42-40 lead just before the half. A three-point play from Concordia's Colby Duvel put the hosts back in front and then a Cunningham free throw made it a one-point game by halftime, 44-43.

Northwestern fell behind by double digits (62-50) in the third quarter and trailed by seven (73-66) by quarters end. The Red Raiders would get no closer than seven over the final period.

The Red Raiders shot 52% for the game, 38% (8/21) from beyond the arc, and held a commanding edge (47-31) on the glass. Turnovers and free throws were the deciding factors as Northwestern committed a season-high 31 compared to just 13 by Concordia. The Red Raiders were 9/12 from the free throw line while Concordia made 16-of-23 attempts from the line.

Philomena Lammers led all players with 19 points, followed by Quinn Wragge with 15. Duvel came off the bench to score 13 and Grace Barry added 12 points and eight assists.

Scouting Reports...

    No.1 Concordia Bulldogs: 15-2 (1st), 23-2 overall                Head Coach: Drew Olson (13th year)

With five games left in the regular season, Concordia owns a one game lead on both Northwestern and DWU for the conference regular season title. They have nine consecutive games since losing to Dordt, 97-92 in overtime, on Jan. 2. Concordia is 15-2 in the GPAC, 23-2 overall, and most recently has wins over Dordt, Concordia (Wis.) and Concordia (Mich.)

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: 89.8ppg (1st / 3rd)
    Scoring Defense: 66.3ppg (4th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 43% (5th)
    3pt Percentage: 32% (7th), 226 3pters (2nd)
    Free Throw Percentage: 72% (6th)
    Rebound Margin: +1 (9th)

Concordia leads the NAIA with 523 steals and turnovers forced (32); five Bulldog players rank among the GPAC's top 10 in steals

Top Players:  
    Taylor Cockerill (All-Conference) -  15.7ppg (7th), 50 3pters, 37% 3pt (5th), 4rpg
    Philomena Lammers (2x All-American) - 14.9ppg (8th), 60% FG (2nd / 7th), 6.5rpg (7th), 37 blocks (1st), 64 steals (2nd)
    Quinn Wragge (2x All-American) - 11.1ppg, 4.7rpg, 50 steals (8th)
    Grace Barry - 10.9ppg, 147 assists (1st / 2nd), 91 steals (1st / 1st)
  
No.2 Northwestern College Red Raiders: 14-3 (T2nd), 20-3    Head Coach: Chris Yaw (8th year)

The Red Raiders had their five-game win streak snapped last time out, falling to Doane in overtime one week ago 81-74. Prior to that loss, Northwestern had wins over ranked teams, Dakota Wesleyan, Dordt and Morningside. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 86.5ppg (2nd / 4th)
    Scoring Defense: 64.1ppg (3rd)
    Field Goal Percentage: 48% (1st / 1st)
    3pt Percentage: 37% (1st / 4th), 183 3pters (5th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 76% (2nd / 10th)
    Rebound Margin: +12 (1st / 4th)

Top Players:  (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Kassidy De Jong (3x All-American) 18.3ppg (3rd), 48% FG (8th), 51 3pters (8th), 8rpg (2nd)
    Darbi Gustafson (2x All-Conference) 16.5ppg (6th), 54% FG (4th), 8.1rpg (1st)    
    Haley Birks (3x All-Conference)  13.2ppg, 85% FT (4th), 3.7rpg
    Sammy Blum - 11.2ppg, 59 3pters (3rd), 86 assists (7th)
    Anna Kiel - 10.5ppg, 4.8rpg, 62% FG