Northwestern
17-11,8-8Big Ten
Minnesota
14-17,7-11Big Ten
Wildcats Advance Past Minnesota, 65-60
3/3/2022 7:49:00 PM | Women's Basketball
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Northwestern advanced to the third round of the Big Ten Tournament with a 65-60 win over the Minnesota Gophers on Thursday night.
Early in the first quarter, three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Veronica Burton split four Minnesota defenders to put in a tough layup and generate a three point play. Her effort sparked an 11-0 run to create Northwestern's first lead.
While Veronica Burton led Northwestern with 18 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, she told Big Ten reporters after the game that it was a team win more than anything.
"It was a huge team effort. We had a lot of different individuals step up at really crucial times," she said. "It really wasn't just me, it was a lot of the other players around me."
Three other 'Cats posted double digit points. Courtney Shaw both added 11 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season. When Northwestern ran into shooting trouble in the second quarter, Shaw and Burton turned things around hitting all the Wildcat buckets for the quarter.
Jillian Brown also added eleven points, hitting two fast break layups and a crucial three in the third quarter.
But as Minnesota and Northwestern battled for the lead in the final quarter, Lauryn Satterwhite emerged as the Wildcat offense. She added 15 points and seven rebounds, with all her points coming in the second half.
"She [Satterwhite] just brings this team together and she's a person that everyone wants to be around," said Burton. "It was easy for her to get a little frustrated after that first half but I think it just shows her resilience, what she was able to do in the second half."
Down 56-55 with just three minutes to play, Laya Hartman hit a crucial three and Satterwhite followed it up with a three point play to create some distance for the 'Cats.
Northwestern's defense was too stifling for Minnesota to overcome in the final minute. Down just three points with under ten seconds to play, Gopher Sara Scalia tried a three but Satterwhite put up her left hand for the block that sealed the win for Northwestern.
The Wildcats will remain in Indianapolis and face Iowa at 5:30 CT tomorrow.
