Northwestern University Athletics

2021 NCAA WBB selection show reaction

Let's Dance! Northwestern Earns No. 7 Seed in NCAA Tournament

3/15/2021 6:31:00 PM | Women's Basketball

The Wildcats will face No. 10 seed UCF in the first round on March 22 in San Antonio

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern was announced as the No. 7 seed in the Alamo Region of the 2021 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament on Monday night and will face No. 10 seed University of Central Florida in the first round on Monday, March 22, in San Antonio at 3pm CT. 

The Wildcats will make their eighth NCAA Tournament appearance in program history and first since 2014-15. The Wildcats were expected to be a high seed in the 2020 NCAA Tournament before it was canceled due to COVID-19. 

A full bracket for the tournament can be found here. Dates, tip-off times and network designations will follow soon. 

The Wildcats finished the regular-season 15-8 overall with an 11-7 Big Ten record, and they recently finished a run to their first Big Ten Tournament semifinal since 2016. The 'Cats have notable wins this season over Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan State and Iowa (twice).
 
The last time Northwestern finished in the top-five in the Big Ten in consecutive seasons was in 1992 and 1993. The Wildcats have seven NCAA Tournament appearances in program history, coming in 1982, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1997 and 2015. 

Head Coach Joe McKeown will make the 19th NCAA Tournament appearance of his career and second at Northwestern. McKeown has advanced to four Sweet 16s and one Elite Eight with George Washington.
 
This season's iteration of the Wildcats is led by senior guard Lindsey Pulliam and junior guard Veronica Burton
 
Pulliam was named an All-Big Ten second team honoree last week and is one of three Wildcats all-time to earn four All-Big Ten honors in four seasons. With 1,996 career points, she is poised to become the third Wildcat to score 2,000 in her career, after Anucha Browne and Nia Coffey
 
Veronica Burton was named the 2021 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Big Ten first team. After winning the same individual award in 2020, Burton becomes the fifth player in conference history to have won the honor twice. She leads the country with 4.0 steals per game and scored her 1,000th career point on Friday against Maryland.

Players Mentioned

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