Dordt at Northwestern

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The Northwestern women's basketball team opened GPAC play with a convincing 86-73 win over rival Dordt College Tuesday night in the Bultman Center. The Red Raiders improve to 5-4 overall, 1-0 in the GPAC, while the Defenders fall to 2-6 overall and 0-1 in the GPAC.

Dordt held the early lead, 19-12, before the Red Raiders scored 13 straight points to pull ahead for good, 25-19, with 5:54 left in the first half. Northwestern built the lead up to 11, 38-27, just before the break and led 41-31 at intermission.

The Raiders opened up a 58-40 advantage but Dordt closed to within 14 (65-51) with 10:18 left on the clock. Northwestern then pulled away with a 17-8 run and grabbed its largest lead of the game, 82-59, with just under four minutes to play. Coach Woudstra cleared his bench and earned the 86-73 win.

Northwestern shot 47% for the game compared to 34% for the Defenders. Four players scored in double figures for the Raiders, led by Kami Kuhlmann with 17 points. The freshman from Charter Oak, Iowa, made 7-of-14 field goals and collected a team-best four steals. Becca Hurley netted 16 points and tied her career-high with seven rebounds. She also dished out three assists and recorded three steals. Andrea Wedel added a career-high 15 points off the bench and Katie Nieuwsma tied her career-high with 13 points for Coach Woudstra's squad.

Dordt was led  by junior Kate Du Mez who scored 22 points in her season debut. Amber Soodsma added 17 points and eight rebounds.

The Red Raiders will resume play on Dec. 6 as they head to Fremont, Neb., to play Midland Lutheran in a GPAC basketball double-header.