The Northwestern College women’s basketball team hosts Dakota Wesleyan in the second match-up between the two rivals of the season.
Tip-off on Wednesday, Jan. 13, is set for 6pm. Both teams are 7-5 and tied for fifth in the current GPAC standings; Northwestern has won two straight and is 7-8 overall while Dakota Wesleyan has won four straight and is 9-5 overall.
Earlier this season Molly Schany netted a career-high 22 points and Northwestern scored the final 10 points of the game in defeating Dakota Wesleyan 75-69 earlier this season in Mitchell, S.D.
Down by four (69-65), a jumper by Taylor VanderVelde began a 10-0 Northwestern run over the final 3:30 to get the come-from-behind win. Jada Cunningham hit a pair of free throws, Schany scored in paint and Blum sealed the win by making four straight free throws.
Cunningham contributed 12 points, going a perfect 4-for-4 from the field, and Devyn Kemble added 11 points, nine coming from beyond the arc. Northwestern shot 45% for the game and converted 20-of-25 free throws.
Matti Reiner led DWU with 18 points, including four three-pointers, and was one of five Tigers’ players to score in double figures. DWU shot 43% from the field but was limited from the foul line, making 5-of-8 attempts.
The Tigers are in the midst of a season-high, four-game win streak and have won six of their last seven games heading into Wednesday night’s clash against Northwestern. Dakota Wesleyan has wins over Concordia, Doane, Midland and College of Saint Mary since the new year and are tied with Northwestern for fifth place in the GPAC at 7-5. They are an unbeaten 2-0 in non-conference play, defeating Dickinson State and Presentation.
Christensen is in his 11th season and has guided the Tigers to six 20+ win seasons during his time as head coach. Last year, he led DWU to a fifth place finish in the GPAC with a 13-9 record, 21-11 overall. They defeated Indiana Wesleyan in the first round of the NAIA D-II Championship prior to it being canceled.
With victories against Mount Marty and College of Saint Mary, Northwestern has moved into a tie for fifth place in the current GPAC standings with a 7-5 record, 7-8 overall. They trail Dordt by 1.5 games and hold a one game lead over Midland with just under half of the GPAC season left to play.
