Five Northwestern players scored in double figures to lead the visiting Red Raiders to a 70-63 win over Hastings in a conference match-up between ranked teams. Northwestern improves to 2-0 in conference play, 5-3 overall, while handing the Broncos their first loss of the season as they drop to 2-1 in the GPAC, 4-1 overall. 

Kassidy De Jong led Northwestern with 18 points and was one of five Red Raiders to score in double figures. Both Darbi Gustafson and Paige Danner netted 13 points, followed by Renee Maneman with 12 and Haley Birks with 11. De Jong and Gustafson shared game-high honors with eight rebounds and Maneman dished out six assists.

How It Happened...

An 8-2 Hastings run gave the Broncos their largest lead of the game, 11-6, at the halfway point of the first quarter; Northwestern  scored the next six points, four by De Jong and two by Birks, to retake the lead at 12-11; the first quarter featured a total of four lead changes and ended with a 14-13 Red Raider lead.

The Red Raiders managed to hold the lead for the majority of the second period; a basket by Gustafson broke a 21-21 tie and Katie Vander Molen followed with a three-pointer as Northwestern went on a 7-2 run and led 28-23. They held a six-point (33-27) advantage at the half after five straight points by De Jong.

A Danner three-pointer coupled with a jumper by Gustafson put Northwestern up 11, 45-34, with 5:42 left in the third quarter. Hastings followed with its best scoring run of the game, a 14-2 surge, giving the Broncos its last lead (48-47) at the two minute mark. A basket by Birks put Northwestern in front for good moments later and ignited a decisive 12-0 run that ended with a basket by Maneman at the buzzer to put NWC up 59-48.

Hastings rallied, holding Northwestern scoreless for nearly five minutes, and cut the lead down to four (59-55) but consecutive baskets by Maneman ended the surge and the Red Raiders made 5-of-6 free throws to hold off the rally.

By The Numbers...

Northwestern shot 52% against a Broncos team that ranked fourth in the NAIA in opponents field goal percentage (30%); the Red Raiders also scored the most points against the #1 scoring defense this season, over 30 points more than their season average; Hastings shot 42% from the field

Northwestern shot 46% from beyond the arc (5/11); Hastings 2/12 for 17%

The Red Raiders had the edge on the boards, 30-25

Turnovers were in Hastings favor, 24-19

Shandra Farmer led all players with 24 points and was the only Hastings player in double figures