Northwestern and Briar Cliff Split on the Basketball Floor - News, Weather and Sports for Sioux City, IA: KCAU-TV.com

Northwestern and Briar Cliff Split on the Basketball Floor

By Travis Morgan

tmorgan@kcautv.com

Sioux City, IA - Kendra De Jong scored a season-high 29 points but second-ranked Northwestern lost to #8 Briar Cliff 91-79 in the GPAC season opener for both teams. The Red Raiders fall to 0-1 in the GPAC, 4-2 overall, and Briar Clff remains unbeaten on the year, improving to 1-0 in the GPAC, 5-1 overall.

The lead switched hands 11 times in a back-and-forth first half between the ranked teams. Northwestern took the early lead, going up 12-9 after a lay-up by De Jong at the 15-minute mark but the Chargers went on an 8-2 run to move ahead 17-14. The Red Raiders came back and held another three-point lead after a basket by De Jong (40-37) with two minutes left but BCU scored the final seven points of the first half to lead 44-40.

Brair Cliff's Sarah Reeves poured in a game-high 31 points, going 4-for-5 from beyond the arc, to lead BCU. Kelsey Evans added 20 points and six rebounds and Mattie Murren chipped in 12. Briar Cliff shot 52% for the game and forced 26 turnovers.

The 7th ranked Northwestern men defeated Briar Cliff 94-93 in overtime in the GPAC mens basketball opener for both teams. Ben Miller knocked down a free-throw line jumper with less than a second to go for the win! He also hit a 30-foot three-pointer as time expired to send the game into overtime.