Wildcats Drop Double Overtime Thriller to Minnesota

2/7/2016 4:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. — Nia Coffey, Maggie Lyon and Ashley Deary all recorded double-doubles and Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah grabbed 16 rebounds as Northwestern fell to Minnesota 112-106 at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Sunday afternoon.

Christen Inman joined Coffey and Lyon in the 1,000-career point club as the junior poured in 10 points for the 'Cats.

"We're really disappointed and we played our hearts out," head coach Joe McKeown said. "Give Minnesota credit, they made a couple more plays than us in the first overtime and then in the second overtime. There were a lot of different scenarios that could've gone eight different ways."

The Wildcats hosted Think Pink Day at Welsh-Ryan, as the team donned pink uniforms to raise awareness for breast cancer. Northwestern cheerleaders also wore pink and early-arriving fans received pink T-shirts in honor of the occasion.

Deary began to heat up in the late in the first half, as the junior point guard shot a blistering 52.9 percent in the game, collecting 22 points and dishing out 11 assists on the afternoon.

The Flower Mound, Texas, native has led Northwestern on both ends of the floor this season and was honored before the game as the school's new all-time leader in steals. She added six more to that total against Minnesota.

Kunaiyi-Akpanah continued to build on an impressive freshman season, collecting 16 rebounds and chipping in five points. She also collected eight boards on the offensive glass.

"She's an awesome rebounder, so we definitely missed out on some opportunities with having her in the game," Coffey said.

With a 46-40 lead at the break, the 'Cats relied on a balanced offensive effort as they battled the Gophers down the stretch. Four starters finished in double figures and Maggie Lyon led Northwestern in scoring, tying a career-high with 31 points.

With the game tied at 80-80, Northwestern had a chance wrap things up in the final seconds, but Inman's three-point try at the buzzer didn't fall and the game headed to overtime.

Enter Lydia Rohde.

The Brookfield, Wisconsin, native supplied all of Northwestern's ten bench points, but none was bigger than her three-pointer in OT to put Northwestern up against the Gophers. But after neither team could pull away, the 'Cats and Gophers headed to a second overtime.

After Ashley Deary and Nia Coffey fouled out in double overtime, the 'Cats fell short 112-106, as Rachel Banham paced the Gophers with a game-high 60 points.

"She hit some tough shots," Lyon said. "She's a good player, so she's going to hit tough shots. We'll work on that in practice."

Chicago's Big Ten Team returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena on Sunday afternoon, for a Valentine's Day clash with Maryland.

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