Kunaiyi-Akpanah Posts Third-Straight Double-Double Against #16 Michigan

1/28/2018 3:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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EVANSTON, Ill. — Junior forward Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah turned in her 13th double-double of the season, recording 11 points to go along with a game-high 14 rebounds, however Northwestern came up short in a 80-59 contest against the #16 Michigan Wolverines at historic Beardsley Gym on Sunday afternoon.

Kunaiyi-Akpanah is averaging a double-double for the season and, with her performance today, she has now reached double figures in points and rebounds in eight of her past 10 contests. Her 13 double-doubles on the season are the second-most of the Big Ten and tied for the sixth most in the nation.

Sophomore forward Abi Scheid led the Wildcats with 18 points, now scoring in double figures in 19 of 23 games this season. First-year guard Lindsey Pulliam added 15 points, while sophomore forward Bry Hopkins also finished in double figures for the second time in her career, scoring 10 points.

Hopkins beat the buzzer with a floater at the end of the first quarter, but Northwestern trailed, 26-13, at the end of the period. Ball movement was key for the Wildcats early on as the team recorded five assists on six made field goals.

The #B1GCats ramped up their defensive efforts to start the second quarter, holding the Wolverines to just two points on 1-of-8 shooting through the first 5:34 of the quarter. Northwestern also held Michigan without a field goal for the final 3:20 of the first half.

After a slow start, Pulliam came alive in the second quarter as she totaled seven points. Kunaiyi-Akpanah finished the quarter with nine rebounds, more than the rest of Michigan's team had combined, bringing her total to 11 through one half to go along with seven points. Scheid had seven points of her own, but the Wildcats trailed 37-28 at the end of the first half.

Pulliam didn't slow down in the third quarter, scoring eight points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field. As a team, Northwestern shot 47.4 percent (9-of-19) in the quarter, however Michigan shot a blistering 58.8 percent (10-of-17), including 4-of-4 from behind the arc, to extend their lead to 63-47 through three quarters.

Chicago's Big Ten Team has a week off before it heads to Bloomington, Indiana, to take on the Hoosiers Sunday, Feb. 4. Tip is set for 11 a.m. on Big Ten Network.

Individual Notes

Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah recorded her 13th double-double on the season, with 11 points and 14 rebounds. This was her third straight game with a double-double.
Starting at 8:27 in the second quarter, Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah had four rebounds in 62 seconds, a pace that would be 155 rebounds per 40 minutes. She had nine rebounds in the quarter, which was 43 percent of the 21 rebounds available in the quarter.

Career Highs