Northwestern
11-4,3-1Big Ten
Rutgers
7-11,0-6Big Ten
'Cats Pick Up Third Conference Win Over Rutgers
1/13/2022 9:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern improved to 3-1 in conference play on Thursday night, toppling Rutgers at home, 68-63, behind double digit performances from three Wildcats.
Senior guard Veronica Burton once again led the charge with a near double-double, contributing 18 points and nine assists. She accounted for 40 of Northwestern's 68 points as her assists produce a whopping 22 points, not to mention four steals. Northwestern picked up 11 steals in total, racking up 23 points off turnovers and 20 fastbreak points.
First year Caileigh Walsh followed with 13 and senior Courtney Shaw added 11, in addition to six rebounds and two blocks. First year Melannie Daley and junior Laya Hartman were also big producers, putting up eight and nine points respectively.
The 'Cats came out of the gates a little slow on offense and the Scarlet Knights put up a couple threes to grab the lead. Burton and Jillian Brown found a finish on a pair of fastbreak plays to bring the Wildcats within one at the end of the first.
Burton sparked a 15-2 run early in the second quarter, grabbing a steal and sending it to Hartman for three. She followed it up with a three point play of her own, starting a fire under the Wildcat offense. Northwestern went into the half-time break commanding a 32-25 lead.
Walsh drained a three to open the second half and kept the 'Cats hot. Burton sparked another long run and the Wildcats picked up nine points in just two minutes of play.
The Scarlet Knights began to crawl back into the game in the final quarter with some success from beyond the arc, but Daley wasn't having it. She put up eight points in the final minutes, including the last field goal of the game to extend Northwestern's lead to three.
Northwestern will hit the road to face the Michigan State Spartans on Sunday at 1 p.m CT on B1G+.
