Northwestern University Athletics
Thursday, November 14
Evanston, Ill.
6 p.m. CT
Northwestern
1-2,0-0Big Ten
71
vs
69
Utah
2-1,0-0Big 12
1
2
3
4
F
Utah
16
21
17
15
69
Northwestern
12
15
25
19
71
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
‘Cats Roar Back To Down Utah, 71-69
11/14/2024 10:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Daley puts up 23 points, Walsh scores deciding bucket in closing seconds
EVANSTON, Ill. (November 14, 2024) – Melannie Daley poured in a game-high 23 points, while Caileigh Walsh converted in the closing seconds as Northwestern (1-2) erased a 14-point second-half deficit en route to surging back to defeat Utah (2-1) by a final score of 71-69 this evening inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
How It Happened
Northwestern attacked inside early, with Kyla Jones and Taylor Williams scoring on back-to-back trips to stake the 'Cats to a 4-0 lead. A Grace Sullivan turnaround jumper at the 3:04 mark snapped a 7-0 Utah run and trimmed the visitors' lead to 12-8, as the Utes ultimately held a 16-12 edge after the opening frame.
Daley caught fire in the second quarter, knocking down a mid-range jumper with less than a minute gone to trim the margin to two, 16-14. With Northwestern trailing by six, 24-18, Daley rattled off five straight points, a spurt capped off by a triple that pulled the 'Cats within three, 26-23. Following a Tayla Thomas layup to make it a one-point game, 26-25, Utah closed the half on a 11-2 run to establish a 37-27 halftime lead.
Buckets from Williams and Sullivan, respectively, to open the second half clawed Northwestern within six, 37-31. Utah responded, taking its largest lead of the night, 51-37, on a Jenna Johnson three with 4:07 to play in the third quarter. Walsh looked to provide a spark, finishing through contact for a conventional three-point play to bring the gap back down to single digits, 51-42. Sullivan drained a pair of mid-range jumpers as part of a personal 6-0 spurt before Daley beat the buzzer with a long two to punctuate a quarter-ending 13-1 run that saw Northwestern trim the lead to two, 54-52.
After connecting on a pair of free throws to tie the game, 54-54, just 58 seconds into the fourth quarter, Daley battled through traffic to finish, giving the Wildcats their first lead since the opening minutes, 56-54. Thomas drilled a triple shortly after to build a three-point edge, 59-56, as the two teams seemingly traded shots down the stretch. With the lead sitting at 66-63 following another Sullivan make from the field, Casey Harter finished after contact, going on to convert a three-point play and give the 'Cats their largest lead of the night, 69-63, with 1:55 to play.
Utah answered back, pulling even at 69-69 with eight seconds remaining in regulation. Walsh had the final say on the night, finishing off of a feed from Daley with three seconds left to put the 'Cats on top for good, 71-69. Northwestern went on to fend off Utah's last-ditch effort and close out an impressive non-conference win on its home floor.
Gallery: (11-14-2024) Women's Basketball vs. Utah
Inside The Box Score
- Northwestern finished the night at a blistering 51 percent (28-of-55) from the field.
- Daley surpassed the 20-point mark for the ninth time in her career, finishing with 23 points (10-16 FGs, 1-2 3FGs, 2-2 FTs), three assists, and two steals.
- Daley accounted for 21 of her points after the first quarter.
- Sullivan turned in the top offensive performance of her short time as a Wildcat, adding 16 points (5-8 FGs, 6-6 FTs).
- Led by a 6-for-6 night at the charity stripe by Sullivan, Northwestern shot 93 percent (13-of-14) from the free throw line.
- Making her 2024-25 debut, Walsh made the most of her 10 minutes on the floor, with her game-winning bucket capping off a seven-point effort (3-6 FGs, 1-1 FTs).
- For the second time in as many outings, Caroline Lau reached double figures in assists, handing out 10 helpers.
- Williams was again active on the glass, ripping down a team-high 10 rebounds, her 33rd career outing collecting 10-plus caroms.
- Johnson led Utah with 15 points (4-12 FGs, 3-6 3FGs, 4-6 FTs).
Up Next
Northwestern will be idle until Saturday, November 23 when it hosts Harvard in a 12 p.m. tip-off at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
How It Happened
Northwestern attacked inside early, with Kyla Jones and Taylor Williams scoring on back-to-back trips to stake the 'Cats to a 4-0 lead. A Grace Sullivan turnaround jumper at the 3:04 mark snapped a 7-0 Utah run and trimmed the visitors' lead to 12-8, as the Utes ultimately held a 16-12 edge after the opening frame.
Daley caught fire in the second quarter, knocking down a mid-range jumper with less than a minute gone to trim the margin to two, 16-14. With Northwestern trailing by six, 24-18, Daley rattled off five straight points, a spurt capped off by a triple that pulled the 'Cats within three, 26-23. Following a Tayla Thomas layup to make it a one-point game, 26-25, Utah closed the half on a 11-2 run to establish a 37-27 halftime lead.
Buckets from Williams and Sullivan, respectively, to open the second half clawed Northwestern within six, 37-31. Utah responded, taking its largest lead of the night, 51-37, on a Jenna Johnson three with 4:07 to play in the third quarter. Walsh looked to provide a spark, finishing through contact for a conventional three-point play to bring the gap back down to single digits, 51-42. Sullivan drained a pair of mid-range jumpers as part of a personal 6-0 spurt before Daley beat the buzzer with a long two to punctuate a quarter-ending 13-1 run that saw Northwestern trim the lead to two, 54-52.
After connecting on a pair of free throws to tie the game, 54-54, just 58 seconds into the fourth quarter, Daley battled through traffic to finish, giving the Wildcats their first lead since the opening minutes, 56-54. Thomas drilled a triple shortly after to build a three-point edge, 59-56, as the two teams seemingly traded shots down the stretch. With the lead sitting at 66-63 following another Sullivan make from the field, Casey Harter finished after contact, going on to convert a three-point play and give the 'Cats their largest lead of the night, 69-63, with 1:55 to play.
Utah answered back, pulling even at 69-69 with eight seconds remaining in regulation. Walsh had the final say on the night, finishing off of a feed from Daley with three seconds left to put the 'Cats on top for good, 71-69. Northwestern went on to fend off Utah's last-ditch effort and close out an impressive non-conference win on its home floor.
Inside The Box Score
- Northwestern finished the night at a blistering 51 percent (28-of-55) from the field.
- Daley surpassed the 20-point mark for the ninth time in her career, finishing with 23 points (10-16 FGs, 1-2 3FGs, 2-2 FTs), three assists, and two steals.
- Daley accounted for 21 of her points after the first quarter.
- Sullivan turned in the top offensive performance of her short time as a Wildcat, adding 16 points (5-8 FGs, 6-6 FTs).
- Led by a 6-for-6 night at the charity stripe by Sullivan, Northwestern shot 93 percent (13-of-14) from the free throw line.
- Making her 2024-25 debut, Walsh made the most of her 10 minutes on the floor, with her game-winning bucket capping off a seven-point effort (3-6 FGs, 1-1 FTs).
- For the second time in as many outings, Caroline Lau reached double figures in assists, handing out 10 helpers.
- Williams was again active on the glass, ripping down a team-high 10 rebounds, her 33rd career outing collecting 10-plus caroms.
- Johnson led Utah with 15 points (4-12 FGs, 3-6 3FGs, 4-6 FTs).
Up Next
Northwestern will be idle until Saturday, November 23 when it hosts Harvard in a 12 p.m. tip-off at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Team Stats
Utah
NU
FG%
.338
.509
3FG%
.273
.200
FT%
.615
.929
RB
37
34
TO
16
21
STL
10
5
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
10
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
F
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