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HOME OF NORTHWESTERN RED RAIDERS ATHLETICS
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wbb-hastings-recap-1.7.23
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53
Hastings HAS 8-8, 4-6
58
Winner Northwestern NWC 12-3, 7-2
Hastings HAS
8-8, 4-6
53
Final
58
Northwestern NWC
12-3, 7-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Hastings HAS 14 5 15 19 53
Northwestern NWC 8 18 14 18 58

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | NWC Athletic Communications

Raiders Pick Up Second-Straight Win in Back-to-Back Days

Lexie Van Kekerix sets new scoring career-high in second-straight game

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – The No. 15-ranked Northwestern College women's basketball team (12-3, 7-3 GPAC) picked up their second-straight win in the new year, downing the Hastings College Broncos (8-8, 4-6 GPAC) in back-to-back days of Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) action Saturday afternoon inside the Bultman Center.  
"Today was a good team win against a feisty Hastings teams," said head coach Kristin Rotert. "Tough night for us shooting the ball but we were able to generate a lot of great looks and dominated the boards."
 
The Broncos jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead thanks to back-to-back three-pointers. Payton Beckman (Fr., Panora, Iowa) put Northwestern on the board with a three of her own, creating a spark off the bench. Hastings would push their early lead up to seven points and would take a 14-8 lead after the first quarter of play.
 
With 6:48 left in the second quarter, Hastings hit a three thanks to Allison Bauer, putting them up 17-9. It was then when Northwestern stepped it up, turned up the defensive effort and started scoring. Using a 14-0 run to sprint into the 23-17 lead, thanks to four points and a pair of boards from Lexie Van Kekerix (So., Rock Valley, Iowa). The Red Raiders would ride a 17-5 run into the locker room, in part due to Hastings 6+ minute cold streak, leading 26-19 at the half. Beckman led all scorers with nine points at the break.
 
Out of the break, Northwestern would push their lead up to nine points at 31-22 thanks to seven-straight points, all coming from Taylor VanderVelde (Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.). The Broncos would then cut the lead down to five, but Northwestern would keep them at arms length the rest of the quarter. Heading into the final frame, NWC led 40-34.
 
The Red Raiders would flirt with a double digit lead multiple times in the final quarter, leading by as much as 11 with four minutes left. A late Hastings rally would see them cut that lead to as low as four points, but a clutch three from Van Kekerix would seal the deal with a minute and a half left on the clock. Northwestern would go on to win their second-straight game in as many days, downing the Broncos 58-53.
 
GAME NOTES:
  • The Red Raiders returned to their normal starting line-up in today's game: Jones, Anderson, VanderVelde, Schany, H. Nerem.
  • NWC now sits in third-place in the GPAC (7-2), one game back of Briar Cliff. 
  • Northwestern shot 35.5% from the floor, but held Hastings to a mere 29% from the field.
  • The Raiders completely dominated the boards, holding a +15 margin (51-36).
  • It's just the second time this season NWC has eclipsed the 50+ mark in rebounds in a game (51, at Bethel).
  • NWC shot only seven free throws, making five of them (71.4%) compared to Hastings 92.3% (12-for-13).
  • Maddie Jones led all scorers with 17 points, 12 of which came in the second half.
  • For the second-straight game Lexie Van Kekerix set a new career-high in scoring with her nine points.
  • Fellow freshman Payton Beckman also recorded nine points for the Raiders, shooting 3-for-6 from deep.
  • Molly Schany and Taylor VanderVelde combined for seven offensive rebounds, Schany having four.
  • Schany recorded a game-high 11 rebounds, tied for her season-high.
  • Kylie Foss fought on the boards, bringing down eight herself.
  • The Red Raiders recorded an impressive seven blocks in the win, both Schany and Emilee Danner both having two.
SCOOTER'S PLAYER OF THE GAME
Maddie Jones
Up Next: The Red Raiders will hit the road for a Wednesday showdown in Yankton, S.D. visiting Mount Marty University (5-12, 2-9 GPAC) for a 6:00 p.m. tip.

Don't forget to follow Northwestern College Athletics on Facebook @nwcraiders, Twitter @nwcraiders, and Instagram @nwcraiders! #RaidersStandOut
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