EVANSTON, Ill. — Junior forward Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah became the all-time leader in single-season rebounds in Northwestern history in the Wildcats' win over Rutgers on Sunday afternoon.
 
With 20 rebounds at historic Beardsley Gym, she now has 355 in the season, surpassing Nia Coffey's mark of 344 from the 2015-16 season.
 
The Wildcats posted a 63-50 win over Rutgers in the regular season finale. NU now leads the all-time series against the Scarlet Knights, 5-3, and are on a three-game winning streak against the program.
 
Kunaiyi-Akpanah added 12 points and made even more history in the game, notching her 18th double-double of the campaign, tied for the most in a season in Wildcat history with Nia Coffey's 2015-16 season and Patricia Babcock's 1993-94 season. Kunaiyi-Akpanah still has at least one game left in the season to surpass the mark.
 
The Abuja, Nigeria, native's 20 rebounds are tied for the most in a Big Ten game this season, with Nebraska's Kate Cain (Feb. 22 vs. Penn State). The rebounding output is also tied for the third-most in a single game in Wildcat history.
 
First year guard Lindsey Pulliam posted a strong offensive game, rattling off 23 points on 10-of-19 shooting. It was her team-high fifth game with 20-plus points.
 
Northwestern took a first-quarter lead over Rutgers, thanks in part to outshooting the Scarlet Knights by four percentage points. NU led Rutgers, 15-13, after 10 minutes of play, as they made five-of-six free throws, while Rutgers did not reach the charity stripe.
 
The Wildcats continued their offensive prowess in the second quarter, out-scoring Rutgers, 19-13. A buzzer-beater by sophomore forward Abbie Wolf gave Northwestern a 34-26 lead heading into halftime.
 
Pulliam caught fire in the third quarter, scoring nine of Northwestern's 16 points in the quarter — the most a Wildcat has scored in the third quarter this season. The Wildcats remained on top of the Scarlet Knights, 50-38, after the third.
 
The Wildcats hung on in the fourth quarter to seal their regular season ending victory over Rutgers.
 
This game was the 1,000th contest in the storied career of head coach Joe McKeown.
 
Northwestern will play next at the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Wildcats are matched up with Wisconsin in the opening-round contest, playing at 12:30 p.m. CT at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
 
Team Notes

• This game was the 1,000th-career contest for head coach Joe McKeown.
• Northwestern improved to 5-3 all-time against Rutgers … The 'Cats are on a three-game winning streak against the Scarlet Knights.

 
Individual Notes

• Junior forward Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah finished with 20 rebounds, moving her to first all-time in Northwestern history in single-season rebounds … She surpassed Nia Coffey's mark of 344, set during the 2015-16 campaign.
  • Kunaiyi-Akpanah needs 13 rebounds to crack the top-10 for rebounds in a single season in Big Ten history … Minnesota's Janel McCarville is currently 10th-most with 368 boards in the 2003-04 season … She needs 111 to reach the NCAA's top-20 list of most rebounds in a single season … Stanford's Chiney Ogwumike (2012-13) and Oklahoma's Courtney Paris (2007-08) both had 466 rebounds in a single season.
  • She tied Patricia Babcock (1993-94) and Nia Coffey (2015-16) for the most double-doubles in a season in Wildcat history with 18.
  • Of her 20 rebounds, 10 were of the offensive variety … That is the most by a Wildcat player this season.
  • Her 20 rebounds are tied for the third-most in a game in program history. She joins Anucha Browne as the only Wildcats to have multiple 20 rebound games.
• First year guard Lindsey Pulliam posted 23 points … Her team-high 22nd game with double-digit points … 73.3 percent (22-of-30) of her games this season have been double-digit scoring performances.
• Sophomore forward Bryana Hopkins set career highs in steals (4), free throws made (6), and free throws attempted (7) … She scored in double-digits for the fourth time this season.

 
Career Highs

• Bryana Hopkins: FTM (6), FTA (7). Steals (4)
• Lindsey Pulliam: Blocks (2)
• Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah: Offensive Rebounds (10), Blocks (4)

 

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