Northwestern
15-7,11-7Big Ten
Michigan
14-5,9-4Big Ten
Wildcats Advance to Semifinals After Rolling No. 13 Michigan
3/11/2021 2:27:00 PM | Women's Basketball
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Wildcats came away with an emphatic win against No. 13 Michigan, 65-49, to advance to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
Northwestern advances to its first Big Ten Tournament semifinal since 2016.
A suffocating Northwestern defense stifled Michigan's offense throughout the game. Michigan put up 30 points in the first half before being held to just 19 in the second half. 49 points is their lowest total all season and 19 is their lowest total all season for a single half.
The Wildcats pulled ahead of the Wolverines because of some key shotmaking from beyond the arc. The 'Cats went 5-15 from three while Michigan only found a single make from deep out of 15 attempts. Northwestern's offense was well-rounded, with nine points coming off the bench. Michigan, on the other hand, had none. The Wildcats were also able to successfully push the pace, grabbing 13 fastbreak points while keeping Michigan from running away with the ball.
Junior Veronica Burton notched her third double double of the season, leading the team with 25 points and 13 rebounds. She also contributed six assists and three steals, leading the court in both categories. Senior Lindsey Pulliam followed behind with 18 points and six rebounds, putting her just five points shy of 2,000 career points.
Burton got the 'Cats on the board on a fastbreak off a Wood steal. Pulliam took the lead for Northwestern with a three and a mid-range jumper, reinforcing a solid defensive effort. Michigan tried to tie it up late in the quarter, but Burton wasn't having it and put the Wildcats up 17-13.
Michigan tied it up early in the second quarter as Northwestern's offense stuttered. The Wildcats were able to find some success from the charity stripe to keep up with the Wolverines. Burton hit a three mid-quarter and Hamilton grabbed a crucial jumper with seven seconds left to go into the second half, 30-30.
Wood grabbed a layup on an out-of-bounds play to give the 'Cats the lead early. Burton immediately fired off a couple of back-to-back buckets to force a Michigan time out and give the Wildcats a six point cushion. The Wolverines tried to punch back, but Pulliam held them off with a couple of lay-ins to spur a 6-0 run. Northwestern maintained their lead and went into the final frame with an eight point advantage.
Northwestern found significant success from deep in the final quarter. Hamilton opened the quarter with a stunner from deep. Soon after, fellow senior Lauryn Satterwhite and Burton drained their own shots from beyond the arc building a 14-point lead with five minutes left. The 'Cats played a stingy defense and a measured offense to finish out the game and advance in the Big Ten Tournament.
The Wildcats will remain in Indianapolis to face the first-seeded Maryland in the first semifinal game, tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT on FS2.
