ORANGE CITY, Iowa – The Northwestern College women’s basketball team (6-0, 2-0 GPAC) hosted the Doane University Tigers (6-2, 1-2 GPAC) and continued their winning ways with a 100-73 victory.
“Great home win,” stated Head Coach Kristin Rotert. “I thought our team played very unselfish and shared the ball well. We rebounded exceptionally well and did our best to capitalize on mismatches around the basket. We are excited to go on the road for three tough games.”
An early jumper by senior Taylor VanderVelde (Sioux Falls, S.D./Washington) put the Raiders up 2-0 and they would not look back. The first quarter saw the Raider offense shoot 62% included a perfect 2-2 from beyond the arc. VanderVelde would have six first quarter points as Northwestern finished the quarter up ten.
The second quarter saw more jumpers rain in from VanderVelde as she paced the Raiders with ten quarter points. Devyn Kemble (Sr., Panora, Iowa/Panorama) would find her rhythm from deep with back-to-back threes early in the quarter. Senior guard Jada Cunningham (Sioux Falls, S.D./Washington) would keep the Raiders offense rolling by dishing out four assists. Zoe Heemstra (Jr., Orange City, Iowa/MOC-Floyd Valley) cashed in with two threes of her own to put the Raiders up by 22. Northwestern would take a 51-32 advantage into the locker room.
The combination of Kemble and Cunningham would keep the Raiders rolling as they continued to put up points in the third, shooting over 40% from deep during the quarter. Molly Schany (So., Emmetsburg, Iowa/Emmetsburg) would make her presence felt by cleaning up on the glass with seven rebounds during the third period of play.
The final frame would see more offensive firepower from the Raiders as they continued to stretch out their lead. Cunningham finished off her double-double effort with five quarter points. A steal and fast break layup by freshman Hali Anderson (Saint Ansgar, Iowa/St. Ansgar) would put the Raiders past the century mark, as every Raider saw action as they sealed up the 104-73 victory.
Five Raiders would finish in double figures on the night including 19 from both VanderVelde, a new career high, and Kemble. Cunningham finished with 11 points to go with her 11 assists, recording her first career double double. Schany finished with a double-double of her own with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Maddie Jones (Jr., Twin Lakes, Iowa/South Central Calhoun) continued her consistent play at the point guard position with 13 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Junior Hannah Nerem (Edgerton, Minn./Southwest Minnesota Christian) finished with a very productive night coming off the bench with seven points and six rebounds.
Up Next: The Raiders will travel to Fremont, Neb. to take on the Midland Warriors on Tuesday, Nov. 23 at 6:00 p.m.
