Northwestern
Nebraska
'Cats Close Regular Season at Nebraska
2/25/2023 7:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball
| NORTHWESTERN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: GAME INFORMATION | |||||
| DATE | Opponent | TIME | LOCATION | Watch | Live Stats |
| Sunday, February 26 | Nebraska | 1:00 p.m. | Pinnacle Bank Arena Lincoln, Nebraska |
B1G+ | Live Stats |
| Social: Twitter: @NUWbball | Instagram: @nuwbball | |||||
LINCOLN, Neb. – Northwestern women's basketball will wrap up their regular season Sunday as the 'Cats prepare to take on Nebraska. Tip-off between the Wildcats and the Cornhuskers is set for 1 p.m.
Northwestern (9-19, 2-15) will head to Lincoln after falling to Wisconsin, 64-57, on Thursday. Sunday's matchup will be the 23rd all-time meeting between the Wildcats and Cornhuskers (15-13, 7-10), with NU trailing in the overall series, 14-8. Nebraska has come out on top in its last four meetings against Northwestern, including a matchup earlier this season on Feb. 6.
On Thursday against the Badgers, the 'Cats were led by Sydney Wood, who stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Wood was just two points away from tying her career high in points, which she's reached three times this season. Northwestern was tied with Wisconsin at 56 with a minute to go, but the Badgers' 8-1 run sealed the game. The Wildcats found scoring from everywhere, as they held a 20-2 advantage over the Badgers in bench points.
Caileigh Walsh comes into Sunday's bout as the Wildcats' leading scorer, averaging 11.9 points per outing. Walsh scored eight points against the Badgers, but totaled 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting in the game prior against Minnesota. Walsh has also been dominant on the other end, as she's fifth in the Big Ten in blocks per game (1.2).
Wood continues to lead Northwestern on the defensive side, tallying 70 steals and 30 blocks. Her 2.6 steals per game are currently second in the Big Ten, and her 1.1 blocks per game rank just behind Walsh for sixth in the conference.
Overall, Northwestern ranks as the second-best shot-blocking team in the Big Ten. The 'Cats average 4.5 per game, led by the efforts of Walsh, Wood, Paige Mott and Courtney Shaw. Given Wood's efforts, Northwestern is also fifth in the conference with 9.25 steals per game.
Nebraska hosts Northwestern after upsetting No. 25 Illinois in Champaign, 90-57, on Wednesday. The Cornhuskers led by 10 at halftime, then never looked back after outscoring the Fighting Illini 45-22 in the second half. Jaz Shelley led all scorers with 26 points on six made three-pointers, and also added six assists. Shelley was aided by teammates Isabelle Bourne (16 points, 13 rebounds), Sam Haiby (12 points, seven rebounds), Maddie Krull (11 points) and Alexis Markowski (11 points, seven rebounds).
Northwestern last played Nebraska on Feb. 6, falling 78-66. After falling behind 20-3 in the first five minutes and trailing by 22 after the third, the Wildcats battled back with a 19-4 run to get within seven. However, NU could not pull off the comeback. Mott led Northwestern in scoring with 13 points, while Wood and Shaw added 12 each. Bourne and Haiby scored 18 and 17 points, respectfully to help the Huskers to a victory.
After the season finale to Lincoln, the Wildcats will Big Ten Tournament play next week in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Northwestern's opponent and schedule both have yet to be determined.
