17th-ranked Northwestern was outscored 23-16 in the fourth quarter in losing to Briar Cliff 77-67 in a conference match-up played tonight at the Bultman Center. 

Northwestern drops to 7-7 in conference play, 12-7 overall, heading into its bye weekend. Briar Cliff improves to 3-10, 6-15 overall; the teams split their regular season meetings.

Trailing by three (54-51) heading into the fourth quarter, Northwestern cut the lead down to one after a basket by Taylor VanderVelde. Briar Cliff, however, scored the next nine points, beginning with baskets by Konnor Sudmann, followed by a three-pointer from Breanna Allen and lay-up by Payton Slaughter, to push the lead to 10, 63-53. Another three-pointer from Allen put Briar Cliff up 14 (71-57) with 3:17 left and Northwestern would not get closer than eight the rest of the way. 

Northwestern shot 40% for the game, just 30% in the first half, and made 8-of-25 three-pointers (32%). Bre Schuiteman led the Red Raiders with 16 points, draining three three-pointers, her 12th straight game with multiple baskets from beyond the arc. Devyn Kembe added 15 points, scoring in double figures for 13th time this season. VanderVelde scored 13, eight during the fourth quarter, and Sammy Blum contributed 11 before fouling out. With her final basket, Blum became the 46th player in program history to score 750+ points. 

The teams played a high scoring, back-and-forth first quarter that resulted in a 23-21 Briar Cliff lead. Scoring came at a much slower pace during the second quarter as each team was limited to just one three-pointer over the first four minutes. The Chargers surged ahead by seven (34-27) following a three-pointer by Sudmann but Northwestern managed to cut the deficit to four, 34-30, by halftime, following free throws by Schuiteman and Emilee Danner.

Both teams went on extended scoring runs in a third quarter that had the lead switch hands three times. With Northwestern up two, 49-47, Briar Cliff closed with a 7-2 run over the final 2:35 to take a 54-51 advantage by quarters end.

Sudmann poured in game-high 27 points, making 9-of-17 field goal attempts and all seven free throw attempts. Alyssa Carley added 14 and Allen drained three three-pointers en route to 13 points. Briar Cliff shot 48% for the game; 44% from the three-point line (7/16). 

Northwestern held a 36-28 advantage on the boards; Briar Cliff won the turnover battle, 20-15.