No. 15 Northwestern Cruises in Nonconference Finale, 80-38

12/22/2015 3:18:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Wildcats commit only two turnovers while forcing 24

EVANSTON, Ill. -- No. 15 Northwestern committed only two turnovers while forcing 24 in rolling to an 80-38 victory over UMKC Tuesday afternoon at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

The Wildcats held a commanding 34-3 advantage in points off turnovers in improving to 11-1 on the season.

NU assisted on 27 of their 33 field goals in the contest paced by nine assists from Ashley Deary who also posted 15 points and five steals. Maggie Lyon led all scorers with 17 points for the Wildcats. Nia Coffey (13) and Christen Inman (12) also scored in double figures for Northwestern which bounced back from its first loss of the season last Saturday.

Both teams got off to a slow start offensively. Northwestern was just 1-of-8 from the field over the first five minutes of the contest before Lyon hit a 3-pointer from the top of arch to break a 2-2 tie. Lyon's bucket ignited a nine-point run as the Wildcats eventually took a 15-8 lead after the opening quarter of play.

NU held UMKC to 2-for-10 shooting over the opening 10 minutes of play while forcing the Kangaroos into seven turnovers.

Northwestern scored the first six points of the second period to get some breathing room as it extended its lead to 13. Lyon had the hot hand and her jumper with 6:27 remaining in the half made it 26-11 and gave the senior sharp-shooter 12 points.

The lead reached 18, 32-14, before a six-point run by UMKC got the visitors back within 12, but a triple by freshman Amber Jamison just before the half ended gave NU a 35-20 lead at the intermission.

The Wildcats forced 13 first-half turnovers while committing only two themselves.

Northwestern put forth a dominating third quarter to pull away. Holding a 38-24 advantage, the Wildcats outscored the Kangaroos 24-4 over the final eight and a half minutes to stretch the lead to 62-28. Deary paced the 'Cats with 13 points in the quarter, including hitting a trio of 3-pointers.

The Wildcats cruised the rest of the way as they concluded the nonconference portion of their season with a victory.

Northwestern opens Big Ten play on New Year's Eve when it faces Penn State at 1 p.m. Central time.