Northwestern University Athletics
Wednesday, November 6
Evanston, Ill.
7 p.m. CT
Northwestern
0-1,0-0Big Ten
77
vs
81
Illinois State
1-0,0-0MVC
1
2
3
4
F
Illinois St.
18
18
19
26
81
Northwestern
13
21
21
22
77
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Falls To Illinois State In 2024-25 Opener, 81-77
11/6/2024 10:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Jones pours in 28 points to pace ‘Cats
EVANSTON, Ill. (November 6, 2024) – Kyla Jones led all scorers with 28 points, while Casey Harter posted a career-high 18 points as Northwestern (0-1) dropped an 81-77 decision to visiting Illinois State (1-0) in the regular season opener for both teams this evening inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
How It Happened
Grace Sullivan operated at an efficient clip early on, accounting for six of Northwestern's first 10 points. Her third bucket of the night trimmed Illinois State's lead to one, 11-10, with just over three minutes to play in the opening frame. Taylor Williams went coast-to-coast in the closing seconds for her first score of the game as the visitors held an 18-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Tayla Thomas came off the bench to provide a spark, stepping outside to knock down a triple before converting on the break off a feed from Caroline Lau to pull Northwestern within two, 20-18. Back-to-back scores by Jones brought the 'Cats level, 22-22, and prompted a Redbird timeout with 6:44 remaining in the first half. After seeing Illinois State stretch its lead out to six on a pair of separate occasions, Northwestern battled back to close the gap to 36-34 at halftime.
A steal-and-score by Harter knotted the score up at 42-42 with three minutes gone in the third quarter. Northwestern took its first lead of the night near the midway point of the frame, with a Lau transition triple staking the 'Cats to a 47-44 edge. Harter added a trey of her own to push the margin to 50-46 shortly after. Illinois State answered back, retaking the lead, 55-52, on a Caroline Waite three with just over a minute remaining. Jones responded on the Wildcats' ensuing possession, drilling a three of her own to make it 55-55 entering the fourth quarter.
Thomas converted in traffic only 21 seconds in to put the 'Cats back on top, 57-55. Jones went back to work shortly after, muscling up an attempt to restore a one-point lead, 59-58, ahead of an old-fashioned three-point play that tied the game at 66-66 with five minutes to go. Illinois State countered with a surge, taking off on a 9-2 run to open up a 75-68 lead at the 2:28 mark. Northwestern refused to go away quietly, closing back within two following a pair of Jones makes at the charity stripe with 29 seconds to go. The 'Cats would get no closer the rest of the way, as Illinois State held on for an 81-77 victory.
Gallery: (11-5-2024) Women's Basketball vs. Illinois State
Inside The Box Score
- Jones finished 9-of-12 from the field, going 2-of-3 from beyond the three-point arc, and 8-of-12 from the free throw line en route to her game-high scoring output.
- Jones, who cracked the 20-point mark for the 18th time in her collegiate career, put up 23 points in the second half.
- Like Jones, Harter upped her game across the final 20 minutes, scoring 13 second-half points as part of her 18-point outing (7-13 FGs, 2-4 3FGs, 2-4 FTs).
- Sullivan joined Jones and Harter in double figures, chipping in 10 points (5-8 FGs) and eight rebounds.
- Lau handed out five assists, dishing out five-plus helpers for the 22nd time in her career.
- Shannon Dowell paced Illinois State with 23 points (7-15 FGs, 2-4 3FGs, 7-9 FTs).
Up Next
Northwestern continues a season-opening four-game homestand on Sunday, November 10 when it welcomes Lehigh to Welsh Ryan-Arena for a 2 p.m. tip-off.
How It Happened
Grace Sullivan operated at an efficient clip early on, accounting for six of Northwestern's first 10 points. Her third bucket of the night trimmed Illinois State's lead to one, 11-10, with just over three minutes to play in the opening frame. Taylor Williams went coast-to-coast in the closing seconds for her first score of the game as the visitors held an 18-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Tayla Thomas came off the bench to provide a spark, stepping outside to knock down a triple before converting on the break off a feed from Caroline Lau to pull Northwestern within two, 20-18. Back-to-back scores by Jones brought the 'Cats level, 22-22, and prompted a Redbird timeout with 6:44 remaining in the first half. After seeing Illinois State stretch its lead out to six on a pair of separate occasions, Northwestern battled back to close the gap to 36-34 at halftime.
A steal-and-score by Harter knotted the score up at 42-42 with three minutes gone in the third quarter. Northwestern took its first lead of the night near the midway point of the frame, with a Lau transition triple staking the 'Cats to a 47-44 edge. Harter added a trey of her own to push the margin to 50-46 shortly after. Illinois State answered back, retaking the lead, 55-52, on a Caroline Waite three with just over a minute remaining. Jones responded on the Wildcats' ensuing possession, drilling a three of her own to make it 55-55 entering the fourth quarter.
Thomas converted in traffic only 21 seconds in to put the 'Cats back on top, 57-55. Jones went back to work shortly after, muscling up an attempt to restore a one-point lead, 59-58, ahead of an old-fashioned three-point play that tied the game at 66-66 with five minutes to go. Illinois State countered with a surge, taking off on a 9-2 run to open up a 75-68 lead at the 2:28 mark. Northwestern refused to go away quietly, closing back within two following a pair of Jones makes at the charity stripe with 29 seconds to go. The 'Cats would get no closer the rest of the way, as Illinois State held on for an 81-77 victory.
Inside The Box Score
- Jones finished 9-of-12 from the field, going 2-of-3 from beyond the three-point arc, and 8-of-12 from the free throw line en route to her game-high scoring output.
- Jones, who cracked the 20-point mark for the 18th time in her collegiate career, put up 23 points in the second half.
- Like Jones, Harter upped her game across the final 20 minutes, scoring 13 second-half points as part of her 18-point outing (7-13 FGs, 2-4 3FGs, 2-4 FTs).
- Sullivan joined Jones and Harter in double figures, chipping in 10 points (5-8 FGs) and eight rebounds.
- Lau handed out five assists, dishing out five-plus helpers for the 22nd time in her career.
- Shannon Dowell paced Illinois State with 23 points (7-15 FGs, 2-4 3FGs, 7-9 FTs).
Up Next
Northwestern continues a season-opening four-game homestand on Sunday, November 10 when it welcomes Lehigh to Welsh Ryan-Arena for a 2 p.m. tip-off.
Team Stats
ILS
NU
FG%
.483
.458
3FG%
.278
.353
FT%
.690
.773
RB
36
30
TO
15
14
STL
6
6
Game Leaders
Pts
28
FGM
9
3FGM
2
FTM
8
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
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