Pulliam, Wildcats Nearly Upset #14 Maryland

1/25/2018 8:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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EVANSTON, Ill. — Thanks to a 19-point performance by first year guard Lindsey Pulliam, Northwestern nearly upended #14 Maryland, 68-65, at historic Beardsley Gymnasium on Thursday night.

Pulliam, playing against the Terrapins of her home state of Maryland, converted eight-of-13 from the field and made three-of-four from the charity stripe.

The 'Cats came out strong in the first quarter, shooting 73 percent from the field. Sophomore forward Abi Scheid hit all three of her shots for seven points, but Northwestern trailed, 26-23, at the end of the period.

In the second quarter, the Wildcats took the lead, 31-30, with 4:30 left, thanks to a nifty layup by junior forward Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah. She led the 'Cats with nine points and four rebounds in the first half, but Maryland entered the break with a slim 41-33 advantage.

Kunaiyi-Akpanah finished with her 12th double-double of the season, posting 16 points and 10 rebounds. She came into the game second in the Big Ten in double-doubles.

The Wildcats went basket-for-basket with the Terrapins to start the third quarter, and were still within eight points at the media timeout. Northwestern played stringent defense in the period, limiting Maryland to 20 percent shooting, as the Terrapins were stuck with an 0-for-11 field goal drought in the quarter.

In all, Northwestern held Maryland without a field goal for the final 7:58 of the third quarter. Sophomore forward Abbie Wolf's buzzer-beating layup at the end of the quarter cut the Maryland lead to 52-47.

Pulliam took control to start the fourth quarter. She scored the Wildcats' first five points, tying the game, 52-52. Scheid's layup with 3:54 remaining brought the score to 60-58, and Kunaiyi-Akpanah converted a layup on the following possession to tie the game, 60-60, with 3:25 left.

Kunaiyi-Akpanah hit one of two from the line to bring the score to 63-61 with 53 seconds left. She then cut off a Maryland pass and converted a fast-break layup on the other end to bring the 'Cats within three points with 11 seconds remaining.

Northwestern held Maryland to just 28 percent shooting in the second half.

Chicago's Big Ten Team remains at home when it hosts No. 16 Michigan Sunday at historic Beardsley Gym. Tip is set for 2 p.m. for the annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

Team Notes

Northwestern scored 23 points in the first quarter, only two shy of tying their season-best mark of 25 points in a quarter … Northwestern outshot Maryland, 73 percent to 67 percent, in the first quarter.
Three Wildcats — Lindsey Pulliam, Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah, and Abi Scheid — finished with double-digit points.

Individual Notes

Junior forward Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah finished with her 12th double-double of the season … She posted 16 points and 10 rebounds.
First year guard Lindsey Pulliam recorded her 16th game of the season with a double-digit point total, finishing with 19 points … She led the team in scoring for the team-high 12th time this season.
First year guard Jordan Hamilton tied her career high with four steals … She also led the squad with five assists.

Career Highs