- Kendra DeJong puts up a shot against Jamestown on Friday.
The Lady Raiders earned three wins in their first three games coming off of a National Championship season in 2009-10. They defeated Jamestown (98-65) on Friday, Nov. 5, Valley City (67-55) on Saturday, Nov. 6, and Grand View (73-53) on Wednesday, Nov. 10.
In the Jamestown game, Northwestern shot 59 percent and held the Jimmies to 33 percent. Senior Becca Hurley and sophomore Kendra De Jong each scored 22 points to lead the offense. Juniors Kami Kuhlman and Val Kleinjan added 16 and 15 points, respectively. Kleinjan also went five-for-six from behind the free throw line. Junior Mel Babcock had a team-high seven rebounds and also added eight points.
The Raiders began the game hot against Valley City State, immediately going on a 21-7 run. Hurley led the team in points with 25, and in rebounds with 12 to earn her first double-double of the season. De Jong was held scoreless in the first half, but netted 14 points in the second half. Kuhlman also contributed with 12 points. The Raiders had a 41-29 rebounding advantage and shot 43 percent, 42 percent behind the arc, compared to the Vikings’ 35 percent.
The Raiders knocked off eighth-ranked Grand View by 20 points on Wednesday. De Jong scored a double-double with 30 points and 10 rebounds. She also added four steals and two blocks. Kuhlman had 11 points, while Babcock pulled down eight rebounds and had four assists.
The Raiders shot 40 percent total, but struggled behind the arc, shooting only 16 percent. Grandview shot 35 percent, 50 percent behind the arc. Grand View actually had the advantage off the glass, pulling down 37 rebounds compared to NW’s 36.
Next up, the Raiders will host Dakota State at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13.
