Wildcats Dominate Badgers, 71-53

2/20/2016 3:29:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

MADISON, Wisc. - Junior Nia Coffey and rookie Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah registered double-doubles to lead the Wildcats as Northwestern dominated Wisconsin, 71-53, on Saturday afternoon at Kohl Center.

Coffey contributed 15 points and 11 boards, while Kunaiyi-Akpanah added 10 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Senior Maggie Lyon led NU in scoring with 18 points, and juniors Christen Inman and Ashley Deary combined for 19 points.

Kunaiyi-Akpanah opened the account for the Wildcats with a layup in the opening seconds of the game. Coffey matched with two buckets of her own as Northwestern jumped out to an early 6-2 lead.

The Badgers cut the deficit to just two with three minutes left in the quarter, but the 'Cats used an 8-2 run, highlighted by a Lyon triple, to build an eight-point advantage. The teams exchanged baskets down the stretch, but Northwestern entered the break with a 33-27 lead.

The Wildcats opened the third period on a tear, and utilized an 11-2 surge to build a double-digit advantage. Wisconsin closed the gap to 10 with a triple at the top of the key, but that is the closest the Badgers would come for the remainder of the game.

Northwestern led by as many as 21 points in the fourth frame, and the Wildcats ran away with the win, 71-53.

As a team, Northwestern shot 47 percent (27-58) from the field, 23 percent (3-13) from 3-point range and 88 percent (14-16) from the charity stripe. Wisconsin connected on 37 percent (21-57) of its shots, including 25 percent (2-8) from beyond the arc and 69 percent (9-13) from the free-throw line. The 'Cats won the rebounding battle, 39-30.

The 'Cats return to the hardwood on Tuesday, Feb. 23, against Michigan for the squad's final home game of the year. Tip is set for 5:30 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.