Northwestern
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Michigan
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'Cats Fall to No. 12 Michigan, 63-58, in Regular Season Finale
3/6/2021 4:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Northwestern fell to No. 12 Michigan 63-58 in a hard-fought battle on the road.
Junior Veronica Burton led the Wildcats with 19 points and senior Lindsey Pulliam followed behind with 11. Juniors Sydney Wood and Courtney Shaw each chipped in nine points a piece and attacked the boards, with eight and seven respectively.
Pulliam got the 'Cats on the board with a long range jumper, but Michigan got off to an early lead with success from deep. Despite a splash from deep by Burton and Shaw a lay up to end the quarter, the Wolverines maintained their advantage.
Burton and Pulliam opened the second quarter with a pair of threes to bring it within one and force a Michigan timeout. The teams traded possessions for most of the quarter before both started to find the basket again with just four minutes left. Shaw rattled off a 5-0 run to close out scoring for the 'Cats in the first half, leaving them within five.
Michigan found a run early in the second half to post their first double digit lead of the game. In response, first-year Paige Mott and Wood scored their first points of the game and Burton grabbed back to back layups. Burton and Wood lit it up from the field, but the Wolverines got to the charity stripe to hold onto their lead 51-40.
Wood sparked the Northwestern offense early in the final quarter with a three-point play, leading the 'Cats on a 10-2 run with five minutes left. Michigan fought back, but senior Jordan Hamilton kept up the offense effort and drained a three to bring the 'Cats within six with just a minute to go. Hamilton notched a put-back to end the game but it was just out of Northwestern's reach.
Sunday's game closes out the regular season slate for Northwestern as Joe McKeown's squad shifts its focus to the Big Ten Tournament. The Wildcats will open action from Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Wednesday, March 10.
