Friday, December 20
West Palm Beach, FL
1:30 p.m.
Northwestern
9-1
64
vs
45
East Carolina
3-7
1
2
3
4
F
East Carolina
5
18
7
15
45
Northwestern
20
21
19
4
64
Photo by: S. J. Carrera, Inc.
McKeown Earns 700th Career Win Against ECU
12/20/2019 3:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball
WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. – Northwestern Women's Basketball head coach Joe McKeown earned his 700th career win on Friday after the Wildcats defeated East Carolina, 64-45, at the West Palm Invitational hosted by Keiser University.
"It's an honor to be in this position. To coach at Northwestern, the character of the players that I have here, the staff, what we're all about, it makes it even more special," McKeown said. "I'm really, really fortunate to have coached so many great players. At New Mexico State and then for 19 years at George Washington — incredible families and people."
"You could do this a long time, and you have to be a little lucky. I think I've been really fortunate," McKeown said. "I will say this. My wife and my family have been with me the whole way. Going back to New Mexico State, she's been at every game she could be at in the past 30 plus years. That's what drives us. We're really blessed to have this great family, this great family of people that I get to coach."
Junior Lindsey Pulliam and Senior Abbie Wolf led Northwestern with 13 and 12 points respectively. Junior Jordan Hamilton also stuffed the stats with a season high of 11 points, four assists and four steals. Sophomore Veronica Burton tied for the lead with Wolf for six rebounds and with Hamilton with four assists while contributing a steal and nine points.
The Wildcats grabbed a 15-point lead in the first quarter with Wolf contributing six points and five rebounds. Hamilton brought some fire off the bench with five points, three assists and three steals.
Pulliam picked up speed throughout the second quarter and led the team with three three-pointers, helping the 'Cats pull even farther ahead of the Pirates. A buzzer-beater from sophomore Courtney Shaw ended the half with the Wildcats on top, 41-23.
Wolf returned to the court at the beginning of the second half putting up six points and an assist in the first three minutes. A fast-break from Hamilton ended the quarter with East Carolina trailing 60-30. Northwestern maintained their strong lead in the final quarter, taking their ninth win of the season and McKeown's 700th, 64-45.
McKeown becomes the 13th active head coach in NCAA Division I Women's Basketball to reach the 700 win mark. He is the fourth active coach in the Big Ten to do so, and the 23rd all time in Division I.
McKeown is in his 34th season as a head coach, totaling 68 wins at New Mexico State from 1986 to 1989 and 441 wins at George Washington from 1989 to 2008 including 15 NCAA Tournament Appearances. He has earned 191 at Northwestern since 2008, and led the Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament in 2015 for the first time since 1997.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
"It's an honor to be in this position. To coach at Northwestern, the character of the players that I have here, the staff, what we're all about, it makes it even more special," McKeown said. "I'm really, really fortunate to have coached so many great players. At New Mexico State and then for 19 years at George Washington — incredible families and people."
"You could do this a long time, and you have to be a little lucky. I think I've been really fortunate," McKeown said. "I will say this. My wife and my family have been with me the whole way. Going back to New Mexico State, she's been at every game she could be at in the past 30 plus years. That's what drives us. We're really blessed to have this great family, this great family of people that I get to coach."
Junior Lindsey Pulliam and Senior Abbie Wolf led Northwestern with 13 and 12 points respectively. Junior Jordan Hamilton also stuffed the stats with a season high of 11 points, four assists and four steals. Sophomore Veronica Burton tied for the lead with Wolf for six rebounds and with Hamilton with four assists while contributing a steal and nine points.
The Wildcats grabbed a 15-point lead in the first quarter with Wolf contributing six points and five rebounds. Hamilton brought some fire off the bench with five points, three assists and three steals.
Pulliam picked up speed throughout the second quarter and led the team with three three-pointers, helping the 'Cats pull even farther ahead of the Pirates. A buzzer-beater from sophomore Courtney Shaw ended the half with the Wildcats on top, 41-23.
Wolf returned to the court at the beginning of the second half putting up six points and an assist in the first three minutes. A fast-break from Hamilton ended the quarter with East Carolina trailing 60-30. Northwestern maintained their strong lead in the final quarter, taking their ninth win of the season and McKeown's 700th, 64-45.
McKeown becomes the 13th active head coach in NCAA Division I Women's Basketball to reach the 700 win mark. He is the fourth active coach in the Big Ten to do so, and the 23rd all time in Division I.
McKeown is in his 34th season as a head coach, totaling 68 wins at New Mexico State from 1986 to 1989 and 441 wins at George Washington from 1989 to 2008 including 15 NCAA Tournament Appearances. He has earned 191 at Northwestern since 2008, and led the Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament in 2015 for the first time since 1997.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
Team Stats
ECU
NU
FG%
.321
.481
3FG%
.250
.350
FT%
.667
.389
RB
26
40
TO
15
20
STL
11
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF/C
/ Women's BasketballJoe McKeown Joins B1G Today (7/14/25)
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