Sunday, January 31
Evanston, Ill.
2 p.m.
Northwestern
13-9, 2-8B1G
64
vs
79
Iowa
15-7, 5-5B1G
1
2
3
4
F
IOWA
19
17
18
25
79
Northwestern
17
16
17
14
64
Wildcats Fall in Fast-Paced Big Ten Matchup Versus Iowa
1/31/2016 3:53:00 PM | Women's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. - Nia Coffey posted her eleventh double-double of the season with a team-high 20 points,and Ashley Deary tied the program's single season steal record as the Wildcats fell to Iowa, 79-64.
"For about 35 minutes, it was a real game, back and forth, every possession mattering. We just didn't do enough to defend Iowa in the fourth quarter when we needed to," said coach Joe McKeown."It was a great crowd today, a fun environment, and I'm just disappointed we couldn't give them a win."
Maggie Lyon started things quickly, draining from three to start the game. Iowa had a quick run, but Deary and Coffey connected from inside the lane as the Northwestern passed around Iowa's zone.
"When we reverse the ball, we're a good team," Coffey said. "When we are communicating, moving the ball, and getting to the basket, we do well."
As the Wildcats continued to find space, Iowa morphed into a 1-3-1 zone. Northwestern's passing was still opening up opportunities, but the rim just wouldn't cooperate, as the Wildcats shot just 27 percent, allowing Iowa to take a 15-9 lead.
The #B1GCats had success driving, with 8 of fifteen first quarter points coming from the lane, before Deary hit a floater on the 'Cats' final possession of the quarter, bringing Northwestern within two at 19-17.
Teams exchanged baskets to start the second, but McKeown called a timeout as Iowa started to make a run. Northwestern clawed back, tying the game at 25 behind Christen Inman's free throws. The Wildcat offense was sharing the load, with four players with at least five points in the first 15 minutes.
Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah had four boards in the opening session before foul trouble forced her to the bench. Allie Tuttle replaced her, immediately joining in the scoring with four in two possessions. But as the 'Cats continued scoring, the Hawkeyes would do the same at the other end, with six ties in the half. The Hawkeyes managed to get the last tally however, taking a 36-33 lead into the half.
Both defenses dominated the opening minutes of the second half, before Lyon drained the first Wildcat three since her first, bringing it to 41-40 with seven minutes left in the third quarter. Minutes later, Coffey joined Inman with double-figure scoring, as a reverse layup brought the Wildcats within one point again, at 43-42.
In a game of runs, the Hawkeyes again began to build a lead, pulling out to 54-46 with a minute and a half in the third. Inman drove the baseline, and Lyon scored from the elbow to pull Northwestern within four as the quarter came to a close.
Coffey continued the momentum, driving to half the Iowa lead, before Lyon added a free throw to make it 54-53. But once again, Iowa built a cushion, taking a 63-53 advantage with five and a half left. The Hawkeyes continued to play stifling transition defense, limiting the Wildcats to just a pair of fast break points.
"When we're a great team, when we beat Ohio State and Nebraska, it's because we're able to run out and our defense is really aggressive, but tonight we weren't able to get those run outs." McKeown said.
With time beginning to slip away, Lyon spotted up from way beyond the arc, hammering home her third triple brining Welsh-Ryan Area to its feet.
In need of stops, the Wildcats reverted to a zone, while continuing to attack the basket on the other end. And while they created opportunities, shots just would not fall for Northwestern, with Iowa claiming a 79-64 victory.
"We just need to focus all four quarters," Lyon said. "At the end of games, you really need to grind out stops and possessions, and we just need to focus on that a little bit more."
The Wildcats take to the road to start February, facing Illinois in Urbana-Champaign on Feb. 4, before returning home to Welsh-Ryan to take on Minnesota at 2 p.m. on Feb. 7.
"For about 35 minutes, it was a real game, back and forth, every possession mattering. We just didn't do enough to defend Iowa in the fourth quarter when we needed to," said coach Joe McKeown."It was a great crowd today, a fun environment, and I'm just disappointed we couldn't give them a win."
Maggie Lyon started things quickly, draining from three to start the game. Iowa had a quick run, but Deary and Coffey connected from inside the lane as the Northwestern passed around Iowa's zone.
"When we reverse the ball, we're a good team," Coffey said. "When we are communicating, moving the ball, and getting to the basket, we do well."
As the Wildcats continued to find space, Iowa morphed into a 1-3-1 zone. Northwestern's passing was still opening up opportunities, but the rim just wouldn't cooperate, as the Wildcats shot just 27 percent, allowing Iowa to take a 15-9 lead.
The #B1GCats had success driving, with 8 of fifteen first quarter points coming from the lane, before Deary hit a floater on the 'Cats' final possession of the quarter, bringing Northwestern within two at 19-17.
Teams exchanged baskets to start the second, but McKeown called a timeout as Iowa started to make a run. Northwestern clawed back, tying the game at 25 behind Christen Inman's free throws. The Wildcat offense was sharing the load, with four players with at least five points in the first 15 minutes.
Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah had four boards in the opening session before foul trouble forced her to the bench. Allie Tuttle replaced her, immediately joining in the scoring with four in two possessions. But as the 'Cats continued scoring, the Hawkeyes would do the same at the other end, with six ties in the half. The Hawkeyes managed to get the last tally however, taking a 36-33 lead into the half.
Both defenses dominated the opening minutes of the second half, before Lyon drained the first Wildcat three since her first, bringing it to 41-40 with seven minutes left in the third quarter. Minutes later, Coffey joined Inman with double-figure scoring, as a reverse layup brought the Wildcats within one point again, at 43-42.
In a game of runs, the Hawkeyes again began to build a lead, pulling out to 54-46 with a minute and a half in the third. Inman drove the baseline, and Lyon scored from the elbow to pull Northwestern within four as the quarter came to a close.
Coffey continued the momentum, driving to half the Iowa lead, before Lyon added a free throw to make it 54-53. But once again, Iowa built a cushion, taking a 63-53 advantage with five and a half left. The Hawkeyes continued to play stifling transition defense, limiting the Wildcats to just a pair of fast break points.
"When we're a great team, when we beat Ohio State and Nebraska, it's because we're able to run out and our defense is really aggressive, but tonight we weren't able to get those run outs." McKeown said.
With time beginning to slip away, Lyon spotted up from way beyond the arc, hammering home her third triple brining Welsh-Ryan Area to its feet.
In need of stops, the Wildcats reverted to a zone, while continuing to attack the basket on the other end. And while they created opportunities, shots just would not fall for Northwestern, with Iowa claiming a 79-64 victory.
"We just need to focus all four quarters," Lyon said. "At the end of games, you really need to grind out stops and possessions, and we just need to focus on that a little bit more."
The Wildcats take to the road to start February, facing Illinois in Urbana-Champaign on Feb. 4, before returning home to Welsh-Ryan to take on Minnesota at 2 p.m. on Feb. 7.
••••••
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Team Stats
IOWA
NU
FG%
.518
.347
3FG%
.308
.167
FT%
.548
.692
RB
42
45
TO
14
10
STL
4
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F/C
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