Northwestern
14-7,11-7Big Ten
Illinois
5-18,2-16Big Ten
Wildcats Move on to Quarterfinals with 67-42 Win over Illinois
3/10/2021 4:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Wildcats rolled past Illinois on Wednesday afternoon. Northwestern will move on to the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament with the 67-42 victory over the 12th-seeded Illini.
Northwestern picked up its first Big Ten Tournament win since Feb. 28, 2018, when they defeated Wisconsin, 68-63, in a first round game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Lindsey Pulliam led the way for NU for the seventh time this year, scoring 21 points on 10-of-19 shooting to go along with nine boards. Sydney Wood was also just one rebound short of a double-double. Wood collected 10 points to go along with nine boards and four assists.
Burton collected her third quarduple-nickel of the season, scoring 15, while adding six assists, six boards and five steals.
The Wildcats stifled the Illinois offense, allowing just 42 points, the lowest total that the 'Cats have allowed this season and the lowest total NU has allowed in the Big Ten Tournament in program history.
In the first half, Northwestern shut down the Illinois offense, allowing just eight points. This marks the lowest total in a single half in Big Ten Tournament history. The 'Cats forced 15 Illini turnovers in the stanza.
In the second quarter, Northwestern held Illinois without a field goal, allowing just two points.
Veronica Burton led all scorers with 12 in the first half, outscoring the entire Illinois team while picking four pockets.
In the second half, Northwestern kept the ball rolling, with Pulliam taking the reins, scoring 13 second half points on 6-of-10 shooting.
Chicago's Big Ten Team will face the Michigan Wolverines in a Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal rematch. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 2 at approximately 12:20 p.m. CT.
