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Burton and Pulliam Post Double-Doubles to Take Down No. 11 Ohio State
2/1/2021 9:17:00 PM | Women's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern took down No. 11 Ohio State, 69-57, highlighted by a career night from junior Veronica Burton.
Burton pulled out all the stops and posted her third-career double-double. She put up 20 points and grabbed a career high 15 rebounds. She was just short of a triple-double posting nine assists, and her four steals moved her to second place in the record books with 238 career steals. She led the court in all four categories.
Senior Lindsey Pulliam was not far behind, posting her first double-double of the season with 15 points and tying a career-high 10 rebounds. Fellow senior Jordan Hamilton followed in scoring with 13 points. All three 'Cats scored more than any player on the Ohio State side of the court. First-year Anna Morris also impressed, improving on her career high set last Thursday against the Hawkeyes with nine points.
Once again, the Wildcats were able to get their opponents into foul trouble. Ohio State posted an impressive 21 fouls and two Buckeyes fouled out, but defense was the name of the game. The 'Cats beat out the Buckeyes on the glass, posting a season high 46 rebounds. Northwestern also posted a season high in blocks with nine. Both Morris and fellow first-year Paige Mott chipped in three blocks apiece, career-highs for both.
Pulliam put the 'Cats on the board first before Burton and fellow junior Sydney Wood put up some quick points. Northwestern managed to grab a strong lead and maintained it by keeping Ohio State scoreless from the field for the last four minutes of the quarter. The Buckeyes only managed eight points in the first quarter, the fewest points scored in a quarter for the team this season.
The 'Cats found a 9-0 run in the middle of the second quarter, spurred by a basket from Morris and a steal by her on the very next play for a Pulliam bucket. Meanwhile the Buckeyes missed 12 straight field-goals, allowing the Wildcats to build their largest lead yet at 15 points. Ohio State was able to scrap their way back into the game late in the frame, but Northwestern's defensive performance maintained their lead, 32-25.
Ohio State found success from deep and began to creep up on the Wildcats. The two teams traded possessions and traded points for most of the third. Hamilton grabbed Northwestern's first three in isolation and kept the 'Cats on top.
Both teams got off to a slow start in the final quarter, but the Buckeyes managed to slowly bring it within one. Pulliam and Wood wouldn't have it and pumped some life into the Wildcat offense. Morris and Hamilton followed with a couple quick lay-ups to extend the lead. Northwestern went on a 5-0 run at the charity stripe to end the quarter and finish the night with the win.
Northwestern will head to East Lansing on Sunday to face-off against the Spartans for the first time this season. The tip-off is currently TBA.
