Jamestown at Northwestern

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The Northwestern College women's basketball team split a pair of games this weekend, falling to #9 Jamestown 85-81 and then defeating Valley City State, 72-54. Coach Woudstra's squad moves to 3-2 this season.

In Friday night's hardwood action, Jamestown scored the first six points of the game before the host Red Raiders went on a 15-4 run to go up 15-10. The Jimmies cut the lead to one (19-18) until another Northwestern run put the hosts up 32-23, its biggest lead of the night, with 4:47 left to play in the first half. NWC had a six point advantage at intermission, 41-35.

The Jimmies, with three players over 6-0, used its size down low to pull ahead 47-46 with 12:50 left to go in the second half. 6-1 freshman Mara Paulson and 6-1 senior Heidi Fiechtner triggered the run along with guard Amanda Rantapaa who hit a pair of three pointers. Trailing by six (69-63), Coach Woudstra's squad battled back to tie the game at 72 on a Val Kleinjan three pointer. Jamestown scored the next five points to go up five but NWC fought back again to cut lead to one, 80-79, on a three pointer by Kami Kuhlmann. The Jimmies, however, converted a lay-up and made its free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Both teams shot well, Northwestern at 49% compared to Jamestown at 50%. Kuhlmann led all scorers with 25 points on 8-of-14 from the field, including 4-of-5 three pointers. Becca Hurley matched a career high with 20 points and Kleinjan added 13. The Red Raiders were out-rebounded, 34-21, but committed just 15 turnovers. Allison Hulst grabbed a team-high four boards.

Northwestern led by three at intermission in Saturday afternoon's game against Valley City State, 31-28. The Vikings pulled ahead early in the second half but the Red Raiders used a 16-5 run to take the lead for good en route to a convincing, 72-54 win.

The Red Raiders shot 52% from the floor and limited Valley City State to just 25% for the game. Kleinjan led all scorers with 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting. She made four three pointers. Hurley was the only other NWC player in double figures with 10. Kuhlmann and Katie Nieuwsma added nine points each while Kristin Neth scored eight points, pulled down eight rebounds and dished out six assists.

Coach Woudstra's squad will head to Sioux City on Tuesday night to play top-ranked Morningside at 7:00 pm.