Seward, Neb. - Northwestern edged out Concordia with a final score of 74-73 on Saturday at Friedrich Arena in Seward, Nebraska.

In the first quarter, the Red Raiders trailed the Bulldogs with a score of 21-16. Northwestern's Lexie Van Kekerix scored the team's first points with a layup at 7:45, and Ashtyn Wobig contributed by making both free throws following an offensive rebound at 5:15. In the latter part of the quarter, Akaysa Duitscher made an impact by hitting two threes, assisted by Maren Nerem and Van Kekerix, to narrow the gap to 13-12 at the 1:50 mark. Northwestern's scoring efforts were rounded out by Hali Anderson's jumper, which brought the team within two points at 0:51 before Concordia extended their lead at the end of the quarter.

In the second quarter, the Raiders initially trailed, but Duitscher's 3-pointer at 9:42 brought them closer. Nerem further narrowed the gap with a successful 3-pointer at 7:29, followed by a block. With 5:15 remaining, Kylie Foss secured a defensive rebound and scored a jumper to give Northwestern a brief lead. Despite trailing again, the team managed to stay competitive with Hali Anderson's 3-pointer reducing the deficit to two points by the end of the quarter, concluding with a score of 33-35.

In the third quarter, Northwestern's offense was highlighted by Van Kekerix, who hit a 3-pointer early on, bringing the score to 36-37. Akaysa Duitscher also contributed with a three-point shot, narrowing the gap to 40-44. Molly Schany was active on the free throw line, scoring once and closing the score to 45-49. Anderson made a significant defensive impact with multiple rebounds and assisted Van Kekerix on a layup, cutting Concordia's lead to 55-58. Despite Northwestern's efforts, Concordia maintained a slight edge, ending the quarter with a 23-22 advantage.

In the fourth quarter, the Raiders outscored the Bulldogs 19-15, securing a narrow victory. Jenna Kluxdal was instrumental, contributing a key layup at the start and converting a free throw to tie the game at 61-61. Akaysa Duitscher's 3-pointer and subsequent free throws played a significant role in maintaining Northwestern's offensive momentum. Schany's consistent scoring, including a jumper and crucial free throws, helped keep Northwestern in the game. After two missed Concordia free throws with 10 seconds left Northwestern regained possession of the ball. Out of the timeout Anderson found herself wide open from 15 feet and knocked dow the jumper with 3.2 seconds remaining ensuring a 74-73 win.

Northwestern Top Performers

Akaysa Duitscher
- 5/8 FG
- 5/5 3FG
- 17 points

Hali Anderson
- 6/16 FG
- 8 rebounds
- 13 points

Ashtyn Wobig
- 2 steals
- 8 points
- 4 rebounds

Molly Schany
- 6 rebounds
- 10 points
- 4/6 FT

Up Next: The Raiders will go back home for a conference rematch with Morningside on Wednesday January 22nd at 6 PM.