Game Time...The Northwestern College women's basketball team plays host to Morningside in the final game of the regular season for both teams. Tip-off on Saturday, Feb. 22 is at 2pm. Northwestern is receiving votes in the current NAIA Coaches' poll and has won five straight games, standing alone in sixth place in the GPAC standings with a 12-9 record, 17-9 overall; No.9 Moringside has won two straight and holds a one game lead on Dordt for the third spot in the GPAC standings with a 15-6 record, 21-8 overall. 

Saturday's game is also senior day, recognizing the two seniors on this year's roster; Brooke Hunwardsen and Bre Schuiteman, and parent's day, where all of the players' parents are recognized prior to the game.

    Follow the game live, via our Red Raider Network, at this link: Watch Now! | Live Stats

All-Time...Saturday's showdown will be the 82nd meeting all-time between the two rivals. Northwestern trails the all-time series 33-48, dating back to the 1976-77 season. The Red Raiders won both games last year but had their three-game win streak snapped last time out against Morningside, losing 76-66, in a game played in Sioux City on Jan.11.

    Last Five Games vs Morningside:
    2019-20: 76-66 loss
    2018-19: 91-66 win
    2018-19: 82-53 win
    2017-18: 83-60 win
    2017-18: 76-65 loss

Last Time vs Morningside... Northwestern lost to #7 Morningside 76-66, in a conference match-up played Jan.11 in Sioux City, Iowa. 

Devyn Kemble led Northwestern with 15 points, making 3-of-5 three-point attempts. Both Bre Schuiteman and Alexis Toering scored 12 points, giving Head Coach Chris Yaw three players in double figures. Toering filled up the stat sheet with a team-high seven rebounds, four assists, four blocks and four steals. 

    Complete Recap | 

Scouting Reports...

    No.9 Morningside Mustangs: 15-6 (3rd), 21-8                Head Coach: Jamie Sale (19th year)

The Mustangs can secure the No.3 seed in the upcoming GPAC Tournament with a win against Northwestern this weekend. They are lone in third place in the current standings with a 15-6 record, one game up on Dordt, who has a game against College of Saint Mary left. Morningside has won two straight, defeating both Jamestown and College of Saint Mary, and is 21-8 overall.

Sale returns three starters and nine players from a 2018-19 team that finished sixth in the GPAC regular season with an 11-11 record, 19-13 overall. They lost to Antelope Valley in the first round of the NAIA D-II National Tournament and were picked sixth in the conference preseason poll. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 83.1ppg (2nd / 9th)
    Scoring Defense: 67.7ppg (7th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 43% (6th)
    3pt Percentage: 35% (2nd), 312 3pters (1st / 5th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 76% (4th / 10th)
    Rebound Margin: +4 (3rd)

    Top Players:  
    Sierra Mitchell (All-American) - 17.1ppg (4th), 103 3pters (1st/3rd), 38% 3pt (1st), 62 assists
    Sophia Peppers - 14.6ppg (7th), 52% FG (2nd), 5.9rpg
    Sydney Hupp (2x All-Conf) - 14.2ppg (9th), 48% FG (7th), 7.2rpg (2nd), 44 blocks (2nd)
    Taylor Rodenburgh - 9.8ppg, 31 3pters, 6.4rpg (7th)

   (RV) Northwestern College: 12-9 (6th), 17-9 overall        Head Coach: Chris Yaw (9th year)

The Red Raiders have won five straight games, defeating three teams recognized in the latest NAIA Coaches' poll (Dordt, Jamestown and Dakota Wesleyan). They are sixth in the GPAC with a 12-9 record and could move into a tie for fifth place with a win over Morningside and DWU loss to Hastings. Northwestern is 17-9 overall. 

This marks the final home game for the two Northwestern seniors, Brooke Hunwardsen and Bre Schuiteman. 

    Record during the four years:
 
                2019-20:               12-9, 17-9
                2018-19:               19-3 (T1st), 29-5; ranked 4^th in final poll; NAIA D-II Qualifier; National Semifinals
                2017-18:              16-4 (T2nd), 25-9; ranked 11^th in final poll; NAIA D-II Qualifier; National Semifinals
                2016-17:              10-10 (T5th), 20-12; ranked 18^th in final poll; NAIA D-II Qualifier; lost in 2^nd round
 
                Combined Record: 57-26 GPAC, 91-35 overall; 3 NAIA Tment Appearances, 2 national semifinals
 
Both players have been part of Red Raider teams that were named to th WBCA Academic Top 25 team honor roll; finishing 13^th last summer, 7^th in 2017-18
 
Hunwardsen and Schuiteman have been part of teams that received NAIA Scholar Team recognition
 
Bre Schuiteman: 86 games, 60 starts, 616pts, 247 rebounds, 129 assists, 136 3pters
                NAIA Scholar Athlete
 
Brooke Hunwardsen:  51 games, 1 start; 46pts, 47 rebounds
                NAIA Scholar Athlete

    By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 80.7ppg (3rd)
    Scoring Defense: 67.5ppg (6th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 44% (5th)
    3pt Percentage: 36% (1st / 7th), 251 3pters (3rd)
    Free Throw Percentage: 79% (3rd / 4th)
    Rebound Margin: +3 (5th)

    Top Players:  
    Sammy Blum (All-Conf) - 15.3ppg (6th), 63 3pters (3rd), 80 assists (10th)
    Alexis Toering - 11.1ppg, 7.6rpg (1st), 58 steals (8th)
    Devyn Kemble - 10.8ppg, 42 3pters, 36% 3pt (4th)
    Bre Schuiteman - 10.2ppg, 56 3pters (6th), 37% 3pt (2nd)
    Taylor VanderVelde - 7.7ppg, 5.2rpg, 87 assists (7th)