Box Score

Northwestern NWC

Tennessee Southern UTS

Northwestern NWC

Final

Mar. 13, 2026

Tennessee Southern UTS

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Northwestern NWC	14	20	15	30	79
Tennessee Southern UTS	26	24	15	17	82

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | Friday, March 13, 2026 | NWC Athletic Communications

Raiders Come Short of National Tournament Upset

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. — In a postseason showdown, Northwestern College battled fiercely but ultimately fell short to the University of Tennessee Southern, 82-79. The Red Raiders made a valiant comeback attempt, outscoring their opponents 30-17 in the fourth quarter.

The game kicked off with Northwestern showcasing sharp ball movement. Maddie Pottebaum set up Allison Piercy for an early score, and Emily TerWee was a force in the paint with six points, helping the Red Raiders jump ahead initially. However, the Firehawks took advantage of turnovers, launching an 18-6 run that put them ahead. Piercy's three-point play cut the deficit, but the quarter ended with Northwestern trailing 26-14.

The second quarter saw Northwestern's Ashtyn Wobig hit a three right at 9:43, thanks to an assist from Piercy. The paint was dominated by TerWee and Ellie Karolevitz, who kept the Firehawks' defense on edge. Midway through, Northwestern's defense shone with steals from Karolevitz and Aubrey Schwieso, narrowing the gap to 31-25. Despite this push, Tennessee Southern's sharp shooting from downtown maintained their lead, closing the half at 50-34.

Into the third quarter, Northwestern leaned on their inside game, adding 14 points in the paint. TerWee was pivotal with key baskets and rebounds. Even as Tennessee Southern hit timely triples, the Red Raiders kept pace, with contributions from Wobig and Karolevitz. Both teams matched each other with 15 points in this quarter, leaving the score at 65-49 with the Firehawks still leading as the final quarter loomed.

In the fourth quarter, the Raiders launched a spirited rally. Piercy sank a quick triple at 8:44, assisted by Pottebaum, igniting a scoring spree in the paint and from the free-throw line. TerWee's two free throws were part of this momentum. Jenna Kluxdal's timely three-pointer at 3:45 closed the gap further. The Red Raiders' defensive boards allowed them to capitalize on missed Firehawks' shots. In a thrilling last-minute push, Piercy added two more treys, slicing the lead to just three points with seconds left.

Despite the late rally, Northwestern came up just short, concluding the game at 82-79 in favor of Tennessee Southern.

GAME NOTES

Allison Piercy matched her career high on the biggest stage with 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists
Jenna Kluxdal was very efficient offensively with 16 points on 7-11 shooting
Ellie Karolevitz made hre presence felt with 10 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds
The Raiders outscored Tennessee Souther 30-17 in the fourth quarter
Northwestern piled on 46 points in the paint and 28 points off the bench