Wildcats Host Parkside For Exhibition on Sunday

Sunday, November 7

Evanston, Ill.

5 p.m. CT

Northwestern

Parkside (Exhibition)

Women's Basketball Team Huddle vs. Michigan at the Big Ten Tournament

Photo by: S. J. Carrera, Inc.

Wildcats Host Parkside For Exhibition on Sunday

11/6/2021 9:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

NORTHWESTERN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: GAMEDAY INFORMATION
DATE	Opponent	TIME	LOCATION	Live Stats	Live Stream	Radio
Sunday, Nov. 7	Parkside	5 p.m. CT	Welsh-Ryan Arena Evanston, Ill.	Live Stats	B1G+	WNUR Sports
Social: Twitter (@N UW BBall) \| Instagram (@N UWB Ball)

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern women's basketball hosts Parkside for an exhibition on Sunday afternoon at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The precursor for the highly anticipated 2021-22 season tips off at 5 p.m. CT and will be streamed on B1G+.

Fans attending the game can view the fan experience guide here. Admission is free for all fans, who will have the first chance to see the new look team.

The Wildcats enter the 2021-22 season with lofty expectations after two of the most successful seasons in program history in the past two campaigns. The Wildcats won a Big Ten Championship for the first time since 1990 in 2019-20, lifting a trophy in front of a packed crowd on Feb. 29, 2020, the last time women's basketball fans were in Welsh-Ryan Arena. Last season, finally playing in an NCAA Tournament after the 2020 edition was canceled due to COVID-19, Northwestern won its first game in the Big Dance since 1993. The 'Cats led ACC powerhouse Louisville by 18 in the second round before narrowly falling short of becoming the fifth Big Ten team in the Sweet 16.

Three senior starters return from last year's squad in Veronica Burton, Sydney Wood and Courtney Shaw. Burton has received numerous preseason accolades already after winning her second Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2021, and begins the campaign with a selection to the Preseason All-Big Ten team and a spot on the Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List. Burton was called up by USA Basketball for the FIBA Americup in the spring and was the starting point guard on a team full of the best rising seniors and juniors in the country on the way to a gold medal.

The Wildcat senior class is also rounded out by graduate guard Lauryn Satterwhite, a team captain, and sharpshooter Jess Sancataldo, who returns to the team after missing the 2020-21 season due to travel restrictions.

The 'Cats returned both of their sophomore and junior classes in full with all five of Kaylah Rainey, Laya Hartman, Anna Morris, Paige Mott and Jasmine McWilliams vying for increased roles.

Additionally, the 'Cats reloaded with a first-year class ranked No. 10 nationally by ESPN comprised of Jillian Brown, Hailey Weaver, Caileigh Walsh, Melannie Daley and Mercy Ademusayo, with multiple players ready to contribute immediately.

Head Coach Joe McKeown signed a contract exension in October that will keep him in Evanston through the 2024-25 season. McKeown enters his 13th year at the helm of the program and has elevated the Wildcats to national acclaim. He earned Big Ten Coach of the Year for his efforts during the 2019-20 season. McKeown ranks second all-time in program history with 223 wins, 28 short of Don Perrelli, who coached from 1984-99. He also ranks 11th among active Division I women's basketball coaches in wins, with over 730.

McKeown elevated Kate Popovec to Associate Head Coach in the offseason, and she continues to oversee recruiting efforts as well as coordinate the Wildcat defense. Along with the talented assistant coaches Preston Reid and WNBA legend Tangela Smith, Mckeown has assembled one of the best player development staffs in the country.

The Wildcats kick off the season in earnest on Wednesday, when they host crosstown rivals UIC at 7 p.m.