Omaha, Nebraska — The Northwestern College women’s basketball team saw its 2020-21 season come to an end with a 95-78 loss to No.8 Clarke in the championship game of the Omaha Bracket B in the NAIA Championship Opening Round.
Northwestern, a team that won 18 of its final 23 games following an 0-6 start, finishes its memorable season with an 18-11 record. They are now 52-12 at the national tournament.
All five Raider starters scored in double figures, led by Molly Schany, who concluded her outstanding freshman campaign with 17 points and two rebounds. The first team all-conference selection made 7-of-12 field goal attempts and scored in double figures for the 21st time this season. Taylor VanderVelde and Alexis Toering both scored 11 points; today’s game against the Pride was the fourth straight game in double figures for Toering; VanderVelde led the team in both rebounds (8) and assists (6).
A tight, competitive and well-played first half ended with Northwestern holding on to a 43-40 advantage against the top-seeded Pride. Northwestern held the edge in shooting percentage (55% – 48%) while Clarke used a 21-11 advantage on the boards to keep the game close. There were 11 lead changes and seven ties in the opening 20 minutes.
The game turned in the third quarter where Northwestern was outscored 34-16 by the Pride; Clarke shot nearly 60% from the field, made 8-of-9 free throw attempts and outrebounded the Raiders 15-5 in the decisive quarter that resulted in a 74-59 lead for the Pride.
Sammy Blum knocked down her second and final three-pointer to put Northwestern in front 51-46 at the 6:44 mark of the third quarter. Clarke responded with a 14-2 run, getting three-pointers from Nicole McDermott and Morgan Pitz, to take the lead for good.
The teams played even in the fourth quarter but Northwestern was unable to get closer than 11.
Northwestern shot 43% for the game, 32% (7/22) from the three-point line; Clarke finished the game shooting 48% overall, 46% (10/22) from the arc. The Pride held a significant edge on the boards (49-27), including 14 on the offensive end. The Raiders only turned it over 11 times compared to 17 by Clarke.
Sammy Blum and Devyn Kemble added 10 points each for Head Coach Chris Yaw’s squad; Blum finished her career with 1,315 points (22nd place) 263 3pters (5th) and 305 assists (21st).
Tina Ubl and Nicole McDermott scored 16 points each to lead Clarke; Morgan Pitz dropped in 15 and Makenna Haase contributed a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
