On Wednesday, the Northwestern women’s basketball team traveled to Yankton, S.D., to take on Mount Marty. It was a match-up of teams on polar opposite ends of the conference standings.
In a shocker, NW lost to the Lancers 78-74. This marks just the second loss of the season for the NAIA No. 2 Red Raiders, who now sit at an overall record of 19-2 and a GPAC record of 11-2.
The score remained tight throughout the first half with both NW and Mount Marty trading baskets. Senior Alli Engebretson capped off the first half with a three-pointer that evened up the score at 35-35.
The score stayed close throughout the second half with neither team claiming more than a four-point lead.
Trailing by just two points, 72-70, with less than a minute to go, junior Karen Hutson missed a jump shot, and Mount Marty secured the rebound. NW was forced to foul, and the Lancers converted both free throws to seal the loss for the Raiders.
Both Hutson and senior Sam Kleinsasser recorded 20 points for the game. Engebretson scored 15 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.
NW tallied 41 rebounds to Mount Marty’s 33 but also committed 20 turnovers.
On Saturday, NW hosted Nebraska Wesleyan in a dominating 103-53 win.
Just minutes into the first half, the home squad took a commanding 25-8 lead.
The Raiders finished the half in control with a 50-25 lead and held the Prairie Wolves to just 33 percent shooting from the field.
In the second half, NW continued to build its lead by putting up 20 points in the first seven minutes of play. This scoring drive sealed the victory and made it the sixth game this season with scoring of 100 or more points.
Kleinsasser finished the game with 17 points and 10 rebounds, which gave her eight double-doubles for the season. Engebretson also recorded her seventh double-double of the season by putting up 14 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Kenzie Small poured in 16 points for the Raiders, and Hutson finished with 10 points.
For the game, the Raiders shot 51 percent from the field and drained an impressive 47 percent (8-17) of their shots from beyond the arc.
Coach Chris Yaw’s squad recorded a season-high 25 steals and forced 34 turnovers.
The Raiders will head to Fremont, Neb., this Saturday to take on Midland.