Northwestern
3-0,2-0Big Ten
Purdue
3-2,0-1Big Ten
'Cats Take Down Boilermakers, 70-54
12/17/2020 8:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Northwestern came away from its first road test victorious and improved to 2-0 in conference play after a 70-54 rout of Purdue at Mackey Arena.
Junior Veronica Burton stuffed the stat sheet, leading the Wildcats with a career-high 27 points for her third 20+ point game in a row. She also tied her career high with two blocks and posted five steals. Three other 'Cats joined Burton with double-digit points. Fellow junior Sydney Wood posted 11, while seniors Lindsey Pulliam and Jordan Hamilton grabbed 10 apiece.
A dominant Wildcat offense was fueled by a solid defensive effort. Purdue had 27 turnovers which Northwestern turned into 29 points on the other end. This marks the second game this season where Northwestern posted 15 steals, having also done so in its win over Eastern Illinois. The 'Cats also beat out the Boilermakers on the glass, grabbing 17 offensive rebounds and finishing with 16 second-chance points. In her first career start, first-year Paige Mott attacked the glass and posted a career high in boards with five. Junior Courtney Shaw also posted a career-high nine rebounds, five of which came on offensive end.
Northwestern got off to an early lead in the first quarter with an 11-2 run, led by 7 points from Burton. By the end of the first quarter, she was already in double digit points. The Wildcats found the advantage in transition, grabbing three steals and finding eight points off of turnovers.
The second half was characterized by three point plays by Northwestern. Hamilton opened up scoring in the second quarter with an and-one. Burton and Wood followed with their own and-one plays, while sophomore Laya Hartman sunk one from deep. By halftime, the 'Cats led the Boilermakers 40-29.
Burton opened the first possession of the third quarter with a buzzer beater three-point shot to tie her career high at 23 points. The Wildcats ended the quarter on a 8-0 run, kicked off by a fast break from Burton which set her new career high.
The Wildcats started the fourth quarter up 16 points. Defense was the name of the game, as Northwestern held the Boilermakers to just 11 points over the final 10 minutes to secure the win.
Northwestern will be back in action at Welsh-Ryan Arena to close out their non-conference slate against Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday, December 22 with tip-off is set for 1 p.m. CT.
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