Orange City, Iowa — The Defenders make the short trip to Orange City, Iowa, to play Northwestern in a key, late-season match-up between ranked foes on Wednesday night, Feb.16. Tip-off at the Bultman Center on Wednesday night is at 6pm.
Ranked 16th in the last coaches poll, Northwestern has won three of its last four games and is tied for third in the GPAC standings, along with Dakota Wesleyan, at 14-6. They are 22-6 overall, one of four conference teams with 20+ wins.
The Red Raiders are in the top half of the conference in both scoring offense (72.8) and scoring defense (62.5) while also leading the GPAC in field goal percentage (47%).
Molly Schany leads a balanced Northwestern offense with 14.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. A first team all-conference selection last year as a freshman, Schany is shooting nearly 60% from the floor. Devyn Kemble (11.3ppg), Jada Cunningham (10.8ppg) and Maddie Jones (10.3ppg) give the Red Raiders four players scoring in double figures. Do-it-all guard Taylor VanderVelde is averaging 9.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and one steal per game.
The 24th-ranked Defenders have won 15 straight games and moved up to second in the current GPAC standings with a 15-5 record. They hold a one game lead on both Dakota Wesleyan and Northwestern with two games left in the regular season. Like Northwestern, they are 22-6 overall and one of four teams from the GPAC with 20+ wins.
Dordt ranks among the top four teams with the conference in scoring (75ppg), scoring defense (64.3ppg), field goal percentage (44%) and free throw percentage (76%).
Ashtyn Veerbeek averages 18.4 points per game, third most in the conference, and leads the GPAC in both rebounding (9.2 / game) and blocked shots (88). Bailey Beckman scores 13 points per game and leads the team with 54 three-pointers. Karly Gustafson gives the Defenders three players scoring in double figures, averaging 11.3 points and 7.6 boards per game.
The Defenders conclude their regular season on Saturday, Feb. 19 when they make the long road trip to North Dakota for a match-up against Jamestown. GPAC post-season pairings will be released Saturday night and Dordt will begin tournament play on Feb.23.
