Northwestern
6-2,4-2Big Ten
Iowa
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Hamilton Leads No. 22 'Cats to Win over Hawkeyes
1/9/2021 8:25:00 PM | Women's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern dealt Iowa its second loss of the season in a 77-67 victory on Saturday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
The Wildcats held the Hawkeyes to 25 points below their season average, including limiting Hawkeye first-year Caitlin Clark to eight points on the night, the first time she has ever been held to fewer than 10 points in her career.
Hamilton led the 'Cats in scoring, with a season high 19 points on the night. Junior Veronica Burton followed with 18 and led all players with seven assists. Fellow junior Sydney Wood put up 16 for the seventh-consecutive game. Wood also led the Wildcats on the glass with seven boards, while contributing three blocks. Both Burton and Wood kept up their defensive prowess, grabbing three steals apiece.
The 'Cats found success from deep once again, shooting a season-high 46.7% from three (7-of-15). Both Hamilton and Burton contributed three from deep. Burton shot three of four, her highest three-point percentage so far this season. Turnovers were once again a strong point for Northwestern. The Wildcats capitalized off 18 Hawkeye turnovers with 28 points.
Shaw opened up the first quarter with a strong play to put Northwestern up on the board on their first possession. Burton went on to hit two threes in a row and Hamilton added to the streak to go three-for-three. Sophomore Kaylah Rainey ended a strong opening quartre for the 'Cats with a deep jumper, extending the lead to 23-16.
Senior Lauryn Satterwhite continued Northwestern's hot streak from deep to open up the second. Iowa managed to overtake Northwestern halfway through the quarter, but Wood and Hamilton managed to penetrate Iowa's defense in the paint and keep it competitive. Rainey once again finished the quarter with a speedy drive straight to the basket from half to tie it up.
Hamilton lit it up from beyond the arc early in the second half to push the 'Cats ahead of the Hawkeyes. Northwestern ended the third quarter with a 9-0 run, highlighted by a three-point play from Burton in the final two minutes. Northwestern went into the fourth with a 12 point lead after a 26-point quarter, the highest scoring quarter of the game.
Iowa punched back in the fourth quarter cutting the Wildcat lead in half, but they were unable to keep up their momentum against a stifling Northwestern defense. The Hawkeyes found themselves in a 5 minute scoring drought and found their way into foul trouble. Northwestern was able to pull away after some strong plays from Wood and take another win at home.
The Wildcats will hit the road once more to face Rutgers in Piscataway, New Jersey on Thursday. The tip-off time is to be announced.
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