Northwestern
DePaul
Northwestern, DePaul Renew Rivalry Wednesday Night
12/3/2024 12:10:00 PM | Women's Basketball
'Cats seek first win over Blue Demons since 2014
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern shot just under 45 percent from the field and piled up 44 points in the paint as it held off a late charge from Cornell en route to a 67-54 win last Sunday at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
The Wildcats were led by Grace Sullivan, who poured in a season-high 22 points. Sullivan, who cracked the 20-point mark for the second time in her career, has scored in double figures in four of Northwestern's six contests this season. Kyla Jones caught fire in the second half, putting up 10 of her 15 points after the intermission as she reached double figures in scoring for the 55th time in her career.
Taylor Williams picked up her second consecutive double-double, putting up 10 points and 13 rebounds. Across Northwestern's two wins last week, Williams averaged 16.0 points and 13.5 rebounds.
Caroline Lau again orchestrated the Wildcat attack, dishing out a game-high 12 assists, her third game of 10-plus assists in 2024-25.
SCOUTING DePAUL
DePaul (3-5) racked up a season-high 22 assists as it snapped a four-game skid with a 66-42 win over SIUE on Sunday afternoon at Wintrust Arena.
Tabbed to finish ninth in the BIG EAST Conference Preseason Poll, the Blue Demons are coming off a 12-20 finish (4-14 BIG EAST) in 2023-24.
DePaul was led in its aforementioned victory against SIUE by a 21-point effort by Jorie Allen, her fourth 20-point game of the young season. A Preseason All-BIG EAST honoree, Allen currently leads DePaul in scoring, averaging 19.0 points, a mark that ranks fifth in the BIG EAST Conference. Taylor Johnson-Matthews also averages in double figures for DePaul, contributing 11.5 points per game. Johnson, an All-American during her time at Pearl River Community College, has put up a season-high 17 points on a pair of separate occasions, most recently accomplishing the feat on November 27 against No. 9 Kansas State at the Ball Dawgs Classic in Las Vegas, Nev.
SERIES STUFF
Wednesday's midweek tilt marks the 40th installment of the rivalry between Northwestern and DePaul on the hardwood. Winners of eight straight against the 'Cats, the Blue Demons lead the all-time series, 24-15 (.615). The 'Cats will be in search of their first win over DePaul since a thrilling 97-91 victory in double overtime on November 19, 2014.
In last season's meeting at Wintrust Arena, Melannie Daley and Casey Harter scored 13 points apiece, leading a group of four Wildcats in double figures, as Northwestern dropped a 90-65 decision.
UP NEXT
Northwestern gets an early start to Big Ten Conference play on Sunday, December 8 when it hits the road to take on No. 23 Michigan in a 1 p.m. CT tip-off at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich.
