Nebraska Wesleyan at Northwestern

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Game Time... Third-ranked Northwestern goes for its seventh consecutive win Saturday afternoon as they play host to Nebraska Wesleyan in GPAC women's basketball. Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 2:00 pm. Coach Woudstra's squad is 14-2 overall, 5-1 in the GPAC while the Prairie Wolves are 4-7 overall, 1-3 in conference play.

All-Time Series...Northwestern holds a 20-8 lead in the all-time series against Nebraska Wesleyan, including an 9-1 record over the last 10 games. The Red Raiders defeated NWU 68-55 in Lincoln, Neb. last year.

Scouting Nebraska Wesleyan...The Prairie Wolves come into Saturday's game with a 4-7 record, 1-3 in the GPAC, but have not played since an 83-50 win over MacMurray College (Ill.) on Dec. 21. NWU shot 51% from the field and an impressive 69% (9/13) from beyond the arc in the win over MacMurray. They held the hosts to just 27% from the field. Shea Rasmussen netted a game-high 24 points in the win, making 6-of-7 three-pointers. Hannah Marshall, making her first start of the season, added 11 points for Coach Jensen's squad.

In conference play, NWU knocked off Dana (69-61) on Dec. 1 for its lone win but lost to Hastings, Mount Marty and Doane.

Eric Jensen is in his second season as the head coach of the Prairie Wolves. Last year, he guided NWU to a 6-21 overall mark, 2-16 in the GPAC, and returns two starters and his top three scorers off last year's squad. Coach Jensen also brought in several newcomers as well, including 11 freshmen.

A pair of juniors return and anchor the front line for the Prairie Wolves. Katy Golden, an honorable mention all-GPAC pick in 2008-09, averages 10.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while Sadie Struebing averages 9.7 points and a team-best 6.6 rebounds per game. The two-time honorable mention all-GPAC forward ranks 10th in the GPAC in shooting percentage (52%) and also leads the team with 26 assists. Sophomore guard Shea Rasmussen leads the team in scoring, averaging 14 points per game with a team-best 30 three-pointers. Freshmen Janelle Baal (4.9) and Katie Fagot (4.5) join Rasmussen in the backcourt along with sophomore Hannah Marshall who averages 3.5 points per game.

Red Raider Notes...NWC concluded its non-conference schedule last Saturday with an impressive 118-105 overtime win over Briar Cliff in the Bultman Center. Kendra DeJong led five Northwestern players in double figures with a career-high 31 points, making 12-of-17 field goal attempts. Becca Hurley scored all 19 points in the second half and overtime period. She also pulled down 12 rebounds for her third double-double of the season and came one assist shy of a triple-double. Katie Nieuwsma (16) and Kami Kuhlmann (15) were also in double figures. It marked the sixth straight win for the third-ranked Raiders, who improved to 14-2 overall. They are in second place in the conference with a 5-1 record.

Earl Woudstra is in his 16th year as the head coach of the Raiders and is the all-time winningest coach in the program's history with over 350 wins.

Northwestern ranks among the GPAC leaders in points (85.8-2nd), field goal percentage (48%-2nd), three-point percentage (37%-3rd) and rebounding (+9.6-1st). Defensively, the Raiders lead the GPAC in field goal percentage defense (36%) and are sixth in scoring defense (66ppg).

Becca Hurley leads four NWC players in double figures averaging over 16ppg, ranking fifth in the GPAC. The junior All-American ranks third in the GPAC with 62 assists and averages 6.7 rebounds per game. Kami Kuhlmann ranks eighth in the GPAC with 15.6ppg. Both players have scored in double figures in 13 of the Raiders' games this season. Kendra DeJong averages nearly 14ppg and ranks fifth in the GPAC in shooting percentage (55%). Randa Hulstein averages over 12ppg and a team-best eight rebounds per game. Val Kleinjan leads the team with 36 three-pointers, shooting 43% from beyond the arc. Katie Nieuwsma (6.0ppg) is the top reserve and has averaged nearly 16ppg over the last three games. Four other Raiders are averaging over four points per game.

Up Next... Northwestern begins a three-game road swing next Wednesday, Jan. 13 as they take on the U. of Sioux Falls at 6:00 pm. The Raiders will play their make-up game against Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell, S.D. on Friday, Jan. 15 followed by another road game against 15th-ranked Briar Cliff on Jan. 20.