Northwestern
16-8,11-7Big Ten
UCF
16-5,12-2AAC
The Dance Continues! Wildcats Advance to Second Round of NCAA Tournament
3/22/2021 5:20:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SAN ANTONIO – Northwestern picked up its first NCAA Tournament win in 28 years on Monday, defeating UCF, 62-51, to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The win was headlined by senior Lindsey Pulliam, who led the waay with an impressive 25 points while contributing three rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal. In the first quarter, Pulliam also became just the third Wildcat in program history to score 2,000 career points.
UCF entered the game with the best scoring defense in the country, holding opponents to an average of 49.2 points per game and just 33.3% from the field. The Wildcats obliterated those averages, shooting 51% from the field and putting up 62 points. Pulliam was the engine of the Northwestern offense throughout the game. Fellow senior Jordan Hamilton also helped run the offense with a game-high eight assists in addition to eight points.
Junior Courtney Shaw was the only other Wildcat in double digits with 12 points, but she also shone on defense, leading the court with three blocks. The 'Cats were able to control the pace of the game, scoring 21 points off turnovers.
UCF got off to an early six point lead, before Pulliam decided to punch back. She drained two jumpers and assisted on a Shaw layup to get a hand in Northwestern's first six points. Hamilton followed suit and drained a three to give the 'Cats a slim lead; which they maintained going into the second quarter.
The Knights tied it up early in the second and regained their lead. Pulliam once again found a response, putting up seven points and sparked the offense. The Wildcats then rattled off a 6-0 run to end the quarter and take the lead going into half-time, 30-26.
Pulliam opened up scoring for the 'Cats in the second half to extend the lead. Both teams went back and forth for most of the third quarter, struggling to find the basket. With just three minutes left, Shaw grabbed a pair of layups in back-to-back possessions to force a UCF timeout. With a strong defensive effort, Northwestern managed to hold the Knights scoreless for the final three minutes and add to their lead.
Northwestern came out firing in the final frame, with first-year Paige Mott dominating in the paint and senior Lauryn Satterwhite on target from beyond the arc. UCF found a long 9-0 run in the middle of the fourth quarter, but Pulliam remained unstoppable.
The 'Cats will advance to the second round and face either second seeded Louisville or 15th-seeded Marist.
