Wildcats Drop Nailbiter to #21 Green Bay at Allstate Arena

12/19/2017 12:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats (PDF)Joe McKeown Press Conference Abi Scheid Press Conference

ROSEMONT, Ill. — Northwestern played a neck-and-neck contest with No. 21 Green Bay on Field Trip Day at Allstate Arena Tuesday afternoon, but came up just short, falling 63-57.

In all, three Wildcats finished in double figures, including a career-high 13 by sophomore point guard Byrdy Galernik in a team-high 39 minutes.

Junior forward Pallas Kuniayi-Akpanah corralled 13 rebounds, her team-leading seventh game with double-digit boards. Sophomore forward Abi Scheid shot 62 percent (5-for-8) in the matinee and was a perfect five-for-five from the charity stripe.

The contest was Northwestern's first against a ranked opponent this season, played in front of a season-high 4,142 fans.

The Wildcats limited Green Bay to only 25 percent from beyond the arc in the first period, and NU trailed by only six points after the first 10 minutes.

Scheid contributed with eight quick points to begin the second period, making two three-pointers in a row followed by an easy layup assisted by first-year Lindsey Pulliam. Scheid finished the first half shooting 71.4 percent (5-for-7).

The Wildcats forced four turnovers and shot 61.5 percent (8-for-13) in the second period to trim the Green Bay lead to 35-28 at half.

With the Wildcats trailing by five points four minutes into the third quarter, Pulliam converted a spot-up jumper in the low post to narrow the Phoenix lead to three points, 35-32. NU would allow a Green Bay three-pointer on the next possession, but Galernik converted an and-one in heavy traffic to make the score 38-35.

The score would tighten again with another Galernik shot, this one a three-pointer with 1:45 left in the third quarter, pushing the score to 40-38. Green Bay ended the third quarter with a narrow 44-40 advantage.

The two squads played a tight fourth quarter, but Green Bay outscored the 'Cats by two points in the final period.

Northwestern will play again on Friday, Dec. 22, against Eastern Illinois at historic Beardsley Gym in Evanston Township High School. Tipoff is 4 p.m. CT.

Team Notes

This was the first-ever meeting for NU against Green Bay and its first-ever game at Allstate Arena.
The Wildcats dropped 57 points on a team that came into the game allowing an NCAA-best 46.1 points per game … NU outshot the Phoenix, 45.5 percent to 42 percent … Green Bay came into the contest allowing only a 31 percent clip from its opponents.

Individual Notes

Sophomore guard Byrdy Galernik posted her career high in points with 13 … Her previous high was nine, coming last game against Missouri State (Dec. 16).
Senior guard Lydia Rohde has made a three-pointer in four straight games, dating back to NU's win over Stony Brook (Dec. 10).
Sophomore forward Abi Scheid made two three-pointers in the game, her fifth contest of the year with multiple three-pointers … She posted a team-high 17 points, shooting 62.5 percent (5-for-8).
- Scheid posted double-digits for the 11th time in 13 games.
Junior Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah finished with 13 rebounds … She has posted double-digit boards a team-leading seven times this season … Her most rebounds in a game since finishing with 14 at Syracuse (Nov. 30).

Career Highs

Bryana Hopkins: FGM (2; tied), Assists (3)
Byrdy Galernik: Points (13), 3FGM (2; tied), 3FGA (6), FGM (5), FGA (11), Minutes (39)
Lindsey Pulliam: 3PTM (1; tied), 3PTA (2; tied)
Abi Scheid: FTM (5), FTA (5)

Season Highs