Sunday, December 15
Evanston, Ill.
2 p.m. CT
Northwestern
5-4,0-1Big Ten
67
vs
57
Bradley
5-4,0-0MVC
1
2
3
4
F
Bradley
23
5
19
10
57
Northwestern
14
20
22
11
67
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Balanced Attack Leads ‘Cats Past Bradley, 67-57
12/15/2024 5:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Williams posts fourth double-double of 2024-25 to lead group of five to score in double figures
EVANSTON, Ill. (December 15, 2024) – Led by Taylor Williams' fourth double-double of 2024-25, five Wildcats scored in double figures as Northwestern (5-4, 0-1 B1G) returned from its break for final exams with a 67-57 win over Bradley (5-4) this afternoon inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
How It Happened
Williams got the 'Cats on the board just over a minute in, connecting on a baseline jumper that made it 2-0. Bradley caught fire from beyond the arc shortly after, hitting on a trio of a triples as part of a 9-0 run, a surge snapped by a Caroline Lau layup that trimmed the Braves' lead to 14-8 at the 3:03 mark. After seeing the visitors build a 10-point edge, 18-8, Grace Sullivan finished inside to cut the gap to four, 18-14, before Bradley scored the final five points of the quarter to reestablish a nine-point lead, 23-14.
Northwestern took control to begin the second quarter, opening the frame on a 14-0 tear. A Melannie Daley steal-and-score cut the visitors' lead to 23-20 with 8:48 remaining in the half. Daley scored again on the break near the midway point of the quarter to vault Northwestern on top, 24-23. Williams went back to work inside, muscling up an attempt that stretched the margin to 28-23, before finding Lau on the break to give Northwestern its largest lead of the half, 34-25. Tamia Perryman connected from outside in the closing seconds to pull Bradley back within six, 34-28, at halftime.
Lau drilled her first three of the day just 90 seconds into the second half as Northwestern's lead reach double digits, 41-31. Bradley continued to hang around, closing back within four, 48-44, following a Perryman layup at the 3:55 mark. Caileigh Walsh provided the answer on Northwestern's ensuing passion, hitting on a three that pushed the lead back to seven, 51-44. Walsh added another trey in the closing minute of the third quarter, banking one home to stretch the margin to nine, 56-47.
Daley knocked down a mid-range jumper with three minutes gone in the fourth quarter as Northwestern took its largest lead of the afternoon, 63-49. Bradley refused to go away quietly, drawing back within six, 63-57, following back-to-back threes from Barnes with four minutes remaining. The 'Cats slammed the door shut the rest of the way, with a Kyla Jones theft and layup bumping the lead back to eight, 65-57, as Northwestern held Bradley scoreless for the final 4:06 en route to a third consecutive win at home.
Gallery: (12-15-2024) Women's Basketball vs. Bradley
Inside The Box Score
- Williams closed her day with 13 points (6-16 FGs, 1-2 FTs) and 11 rebounds on the way to her 32nd career double-double.
- Williams ripped down a game-best four offensive rebounds.
- Lau finished her day with a season-best 12 points (5-12 FGs, 2-6 3FGs), five assists, and two steals.
- Lau now has seven games with five or more assists this season.
- Sullivan scored in double figures for the fourth time in Northwestern's last five games, adding 12 points (5-10 FGs, 2-4 FTs).
- Jones and Walsh chipped in 10 points apiece.
- Jones (5-8 FGs), who reached double figures in scoring for the fifth time in 2024-25, also made her presence felt on the defensive end, recording two steals and two blocks.
- Walsh (4-10 FGs, 2-4 3FGs) fell two rebounds short of a double-double of her own, collecting eight caroms, in addition to a season-high five assists and two blocks.
- Led by two blocks apiece from Jones and Walsh, Northwestern closed the day with a season-high seven rejections.
- Daley racked up four steals, three of which came during Northwestern's dominant second quarter, to go along with eight points and three assists.
- Barnes led all scorers with 26 points (9-21 FGs, 5-12 3FGs, 3-3 FTs) for Bradley.
Up Next
Northwestern hosts UNLV on Wednesday in an 11 a.m. tip-off inside Welsh-Ryan Arena for the program's annual Field Trip Day game.
How It Happened
Williams got the 'Cats on the board just over a minute in, connecting on a baseline jumper that made it 2-0. Bradley caught fire from beyond the arc shortly after, hitting on a trio of a triples as part of a 9-0 run, a surge snapped by a Caroline Lau layup that trimmed the Braves' lead to 14-8 at the 3:03 mark. After seeing the visitors build a 10-point edge, 18-8, Grace Sullivan finished inside to cut the gap to four, 18-14, before Bradley scored the final five points of the quarter to reestablish a nine-point lead, 23-14.
Northwestern took control to begin the second quarter, opening the frame on a 14-0 tear. A Melannie Daley steal-and-score cut the visitors' lead to 23-20 with 8:48 remaining in the half. Daley scored again on the break near the midway point of the quarter to vault Northwestern on top, 24-23. Williams went back to work inside, muscling up an attempt that stretched the margin to 28-23, before finding Lau on the break to give Northwestern its largest lead of the half, 34-25. Tamia Perryman connected from outside in the closing seconds to pull Bradley back within six, 34-28, at halftime.
Lau drilled her first three of the day just 90 seconds into the second half as Northwestern's lead reach double digits, 41-31. Bradley continued to hang around, closing back within four, 48-44, following a Perryman layup at the 3:55 mark. Caileigh Walsh provided the answer on Northwestern's ensuing passion, hitting on a three that pushed the lead back to seven, 51-44. Walsh added another trey in the closing minute of the third quarter, banking one home to stretch the margin to nine, 56-47.
Daley knocked down a mid-range jumper with three minutes gone in the fourth quarter as Northwestern took its largest lead of the afternoon, 63-49. Bradley refused to go away quietly, drawing back within six, 63-57, following back-to-back threes from Barnes with four minutes remaining. The 'Cats slammed the door shut the rest of the way, with a Kyla Jones theft and layup bumping the lead back to eight, 65-57, as Northwestern held Bradley scoreless for the final 4:06 en route to a third consecutive win at home.
Inside The Box Score
- Williams closed her day with 13 points (6-16 FGs, 1-2 FTs) and 11 rebounds on the way to her 32nd career double-double.
- Williams ripped down a game-best four offensive rebounds.
- Lau finished her day with a season-best 12 points (5-12 FGs, 2-6 3FGs), five assists, and two steals.
- Lau now has seven games with five or more assists this season.
- Sullivan scored in double figures for the fourth time in Northwestern's last five games, adding 12 points (5-10 FGs, 2-4 FTs).
- Jones and Walsh chipped in 10 points apiece.
- Jones (5-8 FGs), who reached double figures in scoring for the fifth time in 2024-25, also made her presence felt on the defensive end, recording two steals and two blocks.
- Walsh (4-10 FGs, 2-4 3FGs) fell two rebounds short of a double-double of her own, collecting eight caroms, in addition to a season-high five assists and two blocks.
- Led by two blocks apiece from Jones and Walsh, Northwestern closed the day with a season-high seven rejections.
- Daley racked up four steals, three of which came during Northwestern's dominant second quarter, to go along with eight points and three assists.
- Barnes led all scorers with 26 points (9-21 FGs, 5-12 3FGs, 3-3 FTs) for Bradley.
Up Next
Northwestern hosts UNLV on Wednesday in an 11 a.m. tip-off inside Welsh-Ryan Arena for the program's annual Field Trip Day game.
Team Stats
BRAD
NU
FG%
.339
.441
3FG%
.391
.364
FT%
.857
.500
RB
41
39
TO
15
9
STL
5
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
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