Yates' 30 Points Guides Hastings Past Red Raiders
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hastings (13-6, 9-4) | 22 | 17 | 25 | 18 | 82 |
|
Northwestern (9-10, 5-8) | 19 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 69 |
(Orange City, IA) – Sophomore guard McKenna Yates scored a career-high 30 points to lead the Broncos to a 82-69 win at Northwestern on Saturday afternoon.
Senior Mariyah Avila knocked down a three on the opening possession and with the game tied at five, senior Macy Bryant hit from deep at the 7:42 mark. Tied at 11, Yates got Hastings' next two baskets and with the game tied again at 15 with 3:15 to go, sophomore Adyson Mlnarik and Bryant hit back-to-back threes. Hastings would take a 22-19 lead into the second quarter.
Sophomore Josilyn Miller scored twice early in the second, but Northwestern kept it close and got to within one at the 4:12 mark, then tying the game a minute later. Yates took over in the last three minutes of the quarter with the final seven Bronco points. She began with a layup and two free throws, then drained a three to put them up 39-34 at the half.
Yates, who did most of her damage in the third quarter with 11 points, put Hastings up nine with two quick baskets to begin the period. Still holding a nine-point lead with six minutes left, Yates went on a personal 7-0 run over the next minute with two layups and a three to take a 53-41 lead. Bryant pushed the lead to 13 at the line and five points from Miller at the end of the quarter helped Hastings carry a 64-50 advantage to the fourth.
Northwestern scored twice to begin the fourth and held Hastings without points until the 7:06 mark when Bryant scored inside. After a Red Raider layup, Bryant came right back and drilled a three. Hastings later grew their lead to 14 on a Miller layup halfway through the fourth. Northwestern got within single digits with four minutes left, but Bryant made another three to go up 12 with two minutes to go. The Broncos would keep the double-digit lead from there, winning 82-69.
For the game, Hastings shot 36 percent from the field and 37 percent from three. Northwestern shot 42 percent from the field and 41 percent from three. Hastings was outrebounded 55-39, but forced 28 turnovers and gave up the ball just six times, holding a 30-1 advantage in points off turnovers.
Yates finished with 30 points on 11-21 shooting, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Bryant, who had eight of her 16 points in the fourth, was 4-5 from three. Avila had 13 points and five rebounds, while Miller had 12 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals off the bench.
Up next, Hastings will host College of Saint Mary's on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 6pm.
