San Diego Survives Northwestern's Late Surge in WNIT

3/17/2016 9:33:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. — Despite scoring 35 points in the fourth quarter, Northwestern fell to San Diego, 69-65, in the opening round of the WNIT at Welsh-Ryan Arena Thursday night.

Ashley Deary scored a game-high 23 points in the contest, while Nia Coffey chipped in 20 points and 11 rebounds to collect her 18^th double-double of the season, which matches the Northwestern single-season record.

Four San Diego players scored in double figures, including Malina Hood (20), Sydney Williams (15), Cori Woodward (15) and Maya Hood (12).

Northwestern finished the campaign with an 18-17 overall record, which marks the third consecutive year that the Wildcats have finished a season with a winning a record.

San Diego used a 9-4 run midway through the first quarter to jump out to an early 13-6 lead. Northwestern leaned on Coffey in the opening period for its scoring as the junior forward recorded six of the Wildcats' eight first-quarter points.

The Wildcats found their grove in the second quarter and outscored San Diego in the period, 15-14, to head into the locker room trailing, 32-23.

Much of the Wildcats comeback was attributed to their physical play on the defensive end. Three Northwestern players combined to block seven shots in the half, including Coffey who had three blocks in the frame.

Northwestern maintained its defensive intensity throughout the remainder of the game, finishing with nine blocks and forcing 22 turnovers.

San Diego built its first-half lead by shooting 55.6-percent (5-of-9) from behind the arc in the game's opening 20 minutes.

The Toreros started the second half similar to how they came of out the gates to begin the game. San Diego knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to build an 8-2 run and establish a 42-25 advantage early in the third quarter.

A 13-0 run by Northwestern in the fourth quarter brought the deficit to single digits, 54-46, with less than four minutes to play. San Diego would maintain the nine-point lead until Coffey stole an inbound pass at the 1:58 mark and took it the length of the court for a layup to bring the Wildcats within seven, 60-53.

Deary scored eight points in the final minute and Coffey chipped in a jumper to bring the Wildcats to within as much of a basket, but the Toreros made good on their free throw opportunities to hold on and win the game.