Sunday, December 1
Evanston, Ill.
1 p.m. CT
Northwestern
3-3,0-0Big Ten
67
vs
54
Cornell
3-6,0-0Ivy League
1
2
3
4
F
Cornell
12
16
15
11
54
Northwestern
17
19
15
16
67
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Sullivan, Jones Push ‘Cats Past Cornell, 67-54
12/1/2024 5:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Williams adds third double-double of the season
EVANSTON, Ill. (December 1, 2024) – Grace Sullivan scored a season-high 22 points, while Kyla Jones scored 10 of her 15 points in the second half as Northwestern (3-3) defeated Cornell (3-6), 67-54, this afternoon inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
How It Happened
In what would develop into a theme for the afternoon, Northwestern attacked inside early on, with all seven of its field goals in the first quarter coming from in the painted area. Sullivan accounted for nine of the Wildcats' first 13 points as the hosts jumped out to a 13-7 lead at the 2:13 mark. Taylor Williams capped off the opening frame with a fast break score off a feed from Casey Harter to give the 'Cats a 17-12 advantage.
Xamiya Walton recorded Northwestern's first make from outside the paint when she drilled a deep three with just over a minute gone in the second quarter to stretch the lead to 20-14. Following a 6-0 spurt that saw Cornell close within two, 22-20, Melannie Daley connected on back-to-back mid-range jumpers, the second of which reestablished a four-point edge, 26-22, with 5:25 to play. Jones provided an exclamation point to the opening 20 minutes, connecting on a triple from just over half-court as time expired to push the margin to 36-28.
Offense came at a premium to begin the third quarter, as both teams went scoreless for the opening 3:25 before a Paige Engels pullup jumper brought the Big Red within six, 36-30. Caileigh Walsh looked to help shake Northwestern out of its second-half doldrums on the offensive end, knocking down a jumper at the 5:12 mark to spark a 9-0 surge which was capped off by a Harter triple that saw the lead balloon to 45-30. Cornell refused to fold, chipping its deficit down to eight at the end of the third quarter.
The Big Red would close within three on a pair of separate occasions in the final frame. Following two Summer Parker-Hall makes at the charity stripe that brought the gap to 57-54, Jones attacked the rim on consecutive trips to stretch the lead to 61-54 with 3:17 remaining in regulation. Sullivan put away any hopes of a Cornell comeback down the stretch, connecting on each of her final three attempts from the floor as Northwestern held the Big Red scoreless for the final 5:40 en route to a 67-54 victory.
Gallery: (12-1-2024) Women's Basketball vs. Cornell
Inside The Box Score
Up Next
Northwestern wraps up a brief two-game homestand on Wednesday, December 4 when it welcomes DePaul to Welsh-Ryan Arena for a 7 p.m. tip-off.
How It Happened
In what would develop into a theme for the afternoon, Northwestern attacked inside early on, with all seven of its field goals in the first quarter coming from in the painted area. Sullivan accounted for nine of the Wildcats' first 13 points as the hosts jumped out to a 13-7 lead at the 2:13 mark. Taylor Williams capped off the opening frame with a fast break score off a feed from Casey Harter to give the 'Cats a 17-12 advantage.
Xamiya Walton recorded Northwestern's first make from outside the paint when she drilled a deep three with just over a minute gone in the second quarter to stretch the lead to 20-14. Following a 6-0 spurt that saw Cornell close within two, 22-20, Melannie Daley connected on back-to-back mid-range jumpers, the second of which reestablished a four-point edge, 26-22, with 5:25 to play. Jones provided an exclamation point to the opening 20 minutes, connecting on a triple from just over half-court as time expired to push the margin to 36-28.
Offense came at a premium to begin the third quarter, as both teams went scoreless for the opening 3:25 before a Paige Engels pullup jumper brought the Big Red within six, 36-30. Caileigh Walsh looked to help shake Northwestern out of its second-half doldrums on the offensive end, knocking down a jumper at the 5:12 mark to spark a 9-0 surge which was capped off by a Harter triple that saw the lead balloon to 45-30. Cornell refused to fold, chipping its deficit down to eight at the end of the third quarter.
The Big Red would close within three on a pair of separate occasions in the final frame. Following two Summer Parker-Hall makes at the charity stripe that brought the gap to 57-54, Jones attacked the rim on consecutive trips to stretch the lead to 61-54 with 3:17 remaining in regulation. Sullivan put away any hopes of a Cornell comeback down the stretch, connecting on each of her final three attempts from the floor as Northwestern held the Big Red scoreless for the final 5:40 en route to a 67-54 victory.
Inside The Box Score
- Sullivan finished her afternoon with a season-high 22 points (10-16 FGs, 2-3 FTs), in addition to six rebounds, two steals, and a block.
- This afternoon's showing marked Sullivan's second career game of 20-plus points and saw her fall only six points shy of her career high.
- Sullivan has now scored in double figures in four of Northwestern's six games this season.
- Jones added 15 points (7-10 FGs, 1-1 3FGs), four rebounds, and three assists.
- Jones, who scored 10 points in the second half, reached double figures in scoring for the 55th time in her career.
- Williams turned in another impressive effort at both ends of the floor, putting up 10 points (5-11 FGs) and 13 rebounds on the way to a second double-double in as many games.
- Caroline Lau again orchestrated the Wildcat attack as she matched a season high with 12 assists.
- Lau has 10 or more assists in three games this season.
- Parker-Hall led Cornell with 16 points (6-13 FGs, 4-5 FTs) and 14 rebounds.
Up Next
Northwestern wraps up a brief two-game homestand on Wednesday, December 4 when it welcomes DePaul to Welsh-Ryan Arena for a 7 p.m. tip-off.
Team Stats
CU
NU
FG%
.351
.446
3FG%
.294
.250
FT%
.750
.750
RB
34
41
TO
12
8
STL
3
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
10
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
15
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
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