No. 8 Maryland Defeats Northwestern

1/17/2016 1:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Three Wildcats scored in double figures for the 18^th-consecutive game, but eighth-ranked Maryland claimed an 80-62 win over Northwestern on Sunday afternoon at XFINITY Center.

Nia Coffey led the 'Cats in scoring with 19 points, while classmate Christen Inman and senior Maggie Lyon poured in 13 points apiece. Coffey added nine rebounds to her performance, while Ashley Deary added a game-best four steals and nine points.

Kristen Confroy set career highs with 24 points and 10 rebounds to pace Maryland. The sophomore guard tied a UMD record with eight 3-pointers.

The Terrapins were strong out of the gates, rushing out to a 7-0 lead after two minutes to force head coach Joe McKeown to call for an early time out. After the breather, Coffey drew a foul and drained a pair of free throws to open the account for Northwestern. Deary follow up with a jumper to cut the deficit to just three, but Maryland used a 10-2 run to build a double-digit lead in the first quarter.

Maryland opened the second frame with six unanswered points before a Lyon jumper broke the Terps run. With 5:35 left in the half, the Wildcats strung together a 10-point over surge over two minutes of action to cut the deficit to nine.

A Lyon free throw brought the 'Cats within eight, but Maryland closed out the half with a triple and a layup to enter the break with a 44-30 advantage.

The teams exchanged baskets in the early goings of the third period, but Confroy landed three triples in frame to extend the Terps lead 65-50. Maryland held Northwestern to just nine points in the fourth quarter to runaway with the win.

For the game, Northwestern shot 37 percent (26-71) from the field, 11 percent (2-18) from beyond the arc and 62 percent (8-13) from the free-throw line. Maryland connected on 45 percent (29-64) of its shots, including 53 percent (10-19) from 3-point range and 75 percent (12-16) from the charity stripe. The Terps won the rebounding battle, 52-31.

The Wildcats hit the road again to face Minnesota on Wednesday, Jan. 20. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CST.