CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Brianna Rasmusson recorded a career-high 49 assists and Mikaela Purnell marked her first appearance back on the court with 26 digs but North Dakota State University dropped a 3-1 (27-25, 25-18, 24-26, 25-22) decision to Northwestern University in the opening match of the UNI Tournament in the McLeod Center on Friday, Sept. 16.
 
North Dakota State (2-9) is scheduled to play Illinois State at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17.
 
Rasmusson, a 5-foot-11 junior from Fergus Falls, kept the offense going with the career-high 49 assists. Her previous best was 47 against Texas Tech on Sept. 2.  Rasmusson also had five digs, three blocks and three kills.
 
Emily Minnick and Hadley Steffen each had 14 kills, while Jessica Jorgensen added 11. The trio hit over .314 for the match with Minnick connecting for her 14 with one error in 27 attacks for a .481 hitting percentage.
 
Northwestern outhit the Bison .286 to .227 led by Symone Abbott, who recorded a match-high 16 kills. Gabrielle Hazen and Rafae Strobos both had 12, while Maddie Slater added 10. The Wildcats finished with 10 team blocks to only four for NDSU. Hazen had six blocks and Slater added five.
 
Purnell, who missed the first 10 matches due to injury, reached double-figure digs for the 35th time in her career including her third with 25-plus digs. Purnell and Steffen also had a pair of service aces.