Northwestern
6-13,0-9Big Ten
Illinois
16-4,6-3Big Ten
Northwestern Falls Just Short Against No. 21 Illinois
1/22/2023 4:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. --The Northwestern women's basketball team went into the break up 31-30 on the No. 21 Illinois Fightint Illini, but could not hang on in the second half and fell 67-64 at home Sunday.
The Wildcats (6-13, 0-9) had four players score in double figures, led by Paige Mott, who had 13 points. Sydney Wood tacked on 12 points, five assists, two steals and two blocks and Courtney Shaw chipped in as well with 10 points from the bench.
Northwestern out-rebounded Illinois 34-27 in Sunday's game, paced by five boards from Kaylah Rainey. The Wildcats also grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and scored 10 second chance points.
Northwestern did a great job disrupting Illinois shots in the contest, coming away with five blocks. Caileigh Walsh led the way individually for the Wildcats with two rejections.
How It Happened
After falling behind 8-4, Northwestern went on a 6-0 run with 6:14 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Walsh, to take a 10-8 lead. The Wildcats then surrendered that lead and entered the second quarter down 18-16.
Illinois kept adding to that lead, building a 20-16 advantage before Northwestern went on a 10-0 run, highlighted by a three from Wood, to take a 26-20 lead. The Fighting Illini cut into that lead, but the Wildcats still enjoyed a 31-30 advantage heading into halftime. Northwestern was strong from deep in the period, knocking down two big three-point shots to account for six of its 15 points.
Northwestern then lost its advantage in the third quarter and trailed the Fighting Illini 47-41 entering the fourth.
Illinois kept widening its lead in the fourth, constructing a 62-54 advantage before Northwestern went on a 6-0 run, finished off by Jillian Brown's three, to shrink the deficit to 62-60 with 47 seconds to go in the contest. Illinois responded and outscored the Wildcats the rest of the way, ending the game with a final score of 67-64. Northwestern got a boost from its bench in the period, with non-starters scoring 12 of its 23 total points.
Game Notes
» The Wildcats shot well from three point range, knocking down eight of 17 long range attempts.
» The Wildcats put on a passing clinic, recording an assist on 91 percent of made field goals.
» The Northwestern bench made an impact by adding 26 points to its scoring output.
» Courtney Shaw and Jillian Brown came off the bench to score 10 points apiece.
» Northwestern lost despite a 34-27 rebounding advantage.
» The Wildcats were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, recording five blocks as a team.
» Northwestern cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 14 offensive boards in the game.
» Paige Mott led the Wildcats with 13 points.
» Northwestern got a team-high five rebounds from Kaylah Rainey.
» Caroline Lau recorded a career-high five assists off the bench.
This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
