The Northwestern College Red Raiders are national champions! Northwestern cruised to an 85-66 victory over Shawnee State in the final game to win its third championship and
second in three years. They also won it in 2008 and 2001.
For the fifth straight game, Northwestern opened up a quick lead (5-0) and extended it out to 15-8 after a Kami Kuhlmann three-pointer. The Bears were within five (18-13) before another run by NWC pushed the lead back up to seven (27-20). Northwestern then closed the half on an impressive 19-7 run to take a commanding 46-27 lead into the locker room at halftime. Becca Hurley and Randa Hulstein keyed the attack with 10 and four points respectively.
It was more of the same in the second half as the Red Raiders scored the first five points en route to another big run to go up 74-40 after a free throw by Thea Engen. Eight different Northwestern players scored in the decisive run, led by Kendra DeJong (7) and Val Kleinjan (6). With the game in hand, head coach Earl Woudstra was able to clear his bench and let all 15 players get into the championship game.
Northwestern shot a tournament low 44% from the field but continued to shoot a high percentage from the perimeter at 42% (8-19). For the second straight game, all five starters were in double figures, led by the tournament's most valuable player, Becca Hurley, with 23 points. Val Kleinjan and Randa Hulstein each added 14 while Kendra DeJong (12) and Kami Kuhlmann (11) were the other high scorers. Northwestern dominated the boards, 50-41, led by Hulstein with 10 for her ninth double-double of the season. Hurley dished out seven assists. Defensively, the Raiders held Shawnee State to just 33% from the field
The Red Raiders finished with a 31-5 record, the third most wins in the program's history.
2011-12 Media Guide
