Sammy Blum poured in a game-high 23 points in leading (RV) Northwestern to a 63-58 upset win against 13th-ranked Dakota Wesleyan in a GPAC match-up between ranked teams.
The Red Raiders pick up their fifth straight win and their first road victory against DWU since the 2014-15 season. Northwestern improves to 12-9 in the GPAC, 17-9 overall; DWU drops to 13-8 in conference play, 20-9 overall.
Blum was a perfect 6-for-6 from the three-point line, 8-for-12 overall from the field, en route to her fifth 20+ point game of the season. Schuiteman scored 12 points and both
Emilee Danner and
Alexis Toering added eight points each for Head Coach
Chris Yaw's squad.
Down by one, 49-48, with 7:20 left to play, Northwestern went on a 6-0 run to take the lead for good at the five-minute mark. Consecutive baskets by DWU made it a one-point game after a jumper by Kynedi Cheeseman but
Taylor VanderVelde and
Jada Cunningham scored on drives to the lane to put the Red Raiders up five once again.
Cheeseman knocked down a three-pointer with 26 seconds left to make it a one possession game, 60-58. Blum converted 1-of-2 free throws and Schuiteman came up with a key blocked shot on a potential game-tying three-point attempt by Sarah Carr. Schuiteman controlled the rebound, was fouled and made both free throws to seal the Tigers fate.
Both teams struggled from the field; Northwestern shot 39% for the game, DWU 33%. One of the deciding factors was the advantage the Red Raiders had from the three-point line, making 9-of-21 (43%) compared to 14% (3/21) by DWU. The teams were even in rebounding (39-39) and shot well from the free throw line.
Northwestern held the early advantage, racing out to an 11-6 lead on a trio of three-pointers by Blum. Dakota Wesleyan responded with an 11-2 surge, finished off by a Carr three-pointer. and the hosts led 19-17 after the first quarter.
The teams traded baskets early in the second, leading to four ties in the period, the final at 26-26 with five minutes until halftime. Northwestern then scored the next seven points on baskets by Danner, VanderVelde and finished off by another three-pointer from Blum, as the Yaw's squad held a 33-28 advantage at the break.
Northwestern held its largest lead, 38-30, after free throws by Toering, but Dakota Wesleyan began an 11-3 run, limting the visitors to one field goal during a six-minute stretch, to tie it at 41. The Red Raiders scored the final four points of the quarter for a 45-41 lead.
Cheeseman led DWU with 17 points, followed by her fellow seniors, Carr (11) and Jessica Mieras (10).
Northwestern will host Morningside on Saturday, Feb. 22 for senior / parent's day.
