Second-ranked Northwestern lost to #5 Dakota Wesleyan 75-66 in a GPAC semifinal match-up between top five teams played this afternoon at the Bultman Center. The Red Raiders move to 26-4 overall and await the release of the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship bracket on Wednesday, Feb. 27.
Anna Kiel led Northwestern with 19 points, four rebounds and two blocked shots.
Kassidy De Jong (17 points, 6 rebounds) and
Darbi Gustafson (16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists) were also in double figures for the Red Raiders, who shot 41% from the field, 22% (4/18) from the three-point line.
The teams traded blows in a first quarter that consisted of seven lead changes and four ties, until Northwestern scored the final six points to take a 20-15 lead at quarters end. Kiel, Gustafson and
Sammy Blum all converted baskets and the Red Raiders held DWU scoreless for the final three minutes.
Another basket by Gustafson pushed the hosts lead to eight (25-17) but DWU slowly came back, using a couple of three-pointers by Sarah Carr, to make it a three-point game by halftime, 34-31.
Northwestern extended its lead to six early in the third and still led by five, 44-39, after a free throw by
Haley Birks with 4:19 left. Dakota Wesleyan answered with a 13-2 run, finished off with consecutive baskets by Kynedi Cheeseman and Rylie Osthus, to take its first lead since the first quarter, 52-46. The Tigers lead was five at the break.
Following a basket by Kiel to start the final quarter, DWU went on a second extended run, scoring the next seven points, all by Cheeseman, to make it a 10-point game, 60-50. Northwestern would get as close as four (66-62) on a jumper by Gustafson with 2:04 left but three-pointer by Cheeseman as the shot clock was winding down clinched the win for DWU.
Northwestern held a 44-26 edge on the boards, pulling down 18 on the offensive end. The Red Raiders committed 17 turnovers compared to nine by DWU.
Cheeseman scored a game-high 30 points, followed by Carr with 16 and Osthus with 14. Dakota Wesleyan shot 50% for the game, 36% (4/11) from the arc.
