ORANGE CITY, Iowa – The No. 6-seed Northwestern College women’s basketball team (24-8, 15-7 GPAC) are set to face the No. 11-seed Midway University Eagles (25-7, 15-2 RSC) in the 2022 NAIA Women’s Basketball National Championship Opening Round, presented by Ballogy, on Friday, March 11, at 11:00 a.m. (CST).
The Eagles are led by junior guard Dezeree White, who was a First Team All-River States Conference (RSC) honoree. White averages 18.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Allyson Callahan is a Second Team honoree and averages 13.3 points per game, including just over two makes from beyond the arc on 34.8% shooting. Jalyn Jackson is final double-digit scorer for the Eagles with 11.0 points per contest. The other All-Conference honoree is Jill Goldey who received honorable mention honors.
Northwestern finished with five All-Conference performers, led by Molly Schany. Schany is a First Team selection and averages 14.0 points on 55.9% from the field and 6.6 rebounds per game. Junior Maddie Jones earned Second Team honors and averages 10.7 points, to go along with 3.8 assists per contest. Jada Cunningham and Devyn Kemble provide a consistent threat from beyond the arc shooting 38.3% and 36.7%, respectively, from beyond the arc. Both are averaging double-digits for the Raiders this season and earned Honorable Mention All-Conference honors. Taylor VanderVelde also earned Honorable Mention honors for Northwestern. VanderVelde is second on the team in total rebounds (195), fifth in points (299), third in assists (80) and fourth in steals (28), filling multiple roles for the Raiders on both ends of the floor.
Northwestern currently sits 11th in the NAIA in team field goal percentage at 45.7%, and 23rd in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (34.7%). The Raiders also find themselves 31st in the NAIA in offensive efficiency rating (0.997).
This will be Northwestern’s 18th NAIA Tournament appearance. Overall the Raiders have a 52-12 record in tournament play, winning at least one contest in every appearance they have made. Northwestern has claimed five national titles and one runner-up finish in its NAIA tournament history. This is the first season of head coach Kristin Rotert’s tenure, and her first appearance guiding the Raiders in the postseason.
