EVANSTON, Ill. (February 16, 2025) – Northwestern (8-15, 1-11 B1G) closes out a two-game road trip on Monday evening when it battles Rutgers in a 7 p.m. CT tip-off inside Jersey Mike's Arena in Piscataway, N.J. The matchup will air live on Big Ten Network, with Jason Ross Jr. (play-by-play) and Autumn Johnson (analyst) on the call.
LAST TIME OUT
Taylor Williams came away with her ninth double-double of 2024-25, but host Purdue used a fast start to the second half to create separation en route to a 75-60 win over Northwestern on Wednesday night inside Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind.
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Williams stuffed the stat sheet, putting up 17 points and a season-high 16 rebounds. The graduate forward also came away with a season-best five steals and matched a season high with two blocks.
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Caroline Lau hit on a pair of three-point attempts on the way to finishing with 12 points and four assists. Grace Sullivan scored in double figures for a team-best 16th time this season, adding 10 points. Caileigh Walsh tallied three blocks to move to seventh all-time at Northwestern in the category.
SCOUTING RUTGERS
Like Northwestern, Rutgers (10-15, 2-12 B1G) enters the closing weeks of the regular season battling for its Big Ten Tournament life. The Scarlet Knights, who dropped a 55-43 decision on the road at Iowa last Thursday, sit a game in front of the 'Cats in the conference standings. Piloted by third-year head coach Coquese Washington, Rutgers was victorious in its last appearance inside Jersey Mike's Arena, a 78-69 triumph over Purdue back on February 9.Â
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The Scarlet Knights are led by the one-two punch of Kiyomi McMiller and Destiny Adams. McMiller, who has missed Rutgers' last two games, ranks fourth in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 18.7 points per game. Â McMiller has 10 games of 20 points or more to her name this season and has reached the 30-point mark three times. Â Adams has continued to shine as one of the conference's premier post threats, putting up 17.5 points per game and 9.6 rebounds per game on the way to 12 double-doubles.
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JoJo Lacey has also stepped up to provide support on the offensive end of late for Washington's team. Â A graduate transfer from Boston College, Lacey erupted for 22 points in Rutgers' win over Purdue.
SERIES STUFF
Monday's nationally televised clash marks only the 17th all-time meeting between Northwestern and Rutgers in women's basketball. After sweeping the season series in 2023-24, the Wildcats lead the all-time series, 9-7 (.562).
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Northwestern tallied just its second win in seven tries on the road against the Scarlet Knights last season, downing Rutgers by a final count of 72-61 at Jersey Mike's Arena on March 3, 2024. Led by a 4-for-4 showing from deep by Lau, the Wildcats knocked down eight three-point field goals in the win, operating at a blistering 53.3 percent clip from beyond the arc.
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Walsh (22.0 ppg) and Melannie Daley (20.0 ppg) were dominant in both of the Wildcats' wins over Rutgers last season, each averaging 20-plus points per game.
UP NEXT
Northwestern returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena on Thursday, February 20 to battle No. 17 Maryland in a 6:30 p.m. CT tip-off that will air on Big Ten Network.
LAST TIME OUT
Taylor Williams came away with her ninth double-double of 2024-25, but host Purdue used a fast start to the second half to create separation en route to a 75-60 win over Northwestern on Wednesday night inside Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind.
Â
Williams stuffed the stat sheet, putting up 17 points and a season-high 16 rebounds. The graduate forward also came away with a season-best five steals and matched a season high with two blocks.
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Caroline Lau hit on a pair of three-point attempts on the way to finishing with 12 points and four assists. Grace Sullivan scored in double figures for a team-best 16th time this season, adding 10 points. Caileigh Walsh tallied three blocks to move to seventh all-time at Northwestern in the category.
SCOUTING RUTGERS
Like Northwestern, Rutgers (10-15, 2-12 B1G) enters the closing weeks of the regular season battling for its Big Ten Tournament life. The Scarlet Knights, who dropped a 55-43 decision on the road at Iowa last Thursday, sit a game in front of the 'Cats in the conference standings. Piloted by third-year head coach Coquese Washington, Rutgers was victorious in its last appearance inside Jersey Mike's Arena, a 78-69 triumph over Purdue back on February 9.Â
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The Scarlet Knights are led by the one-two punch of Kiyomi McMiller and Destiny Adams. McMiller, who has missed Rutgers' last two games, ranks fourth in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 18.7 points per game. Â McMiller has 10 games of 20 points or more to her name this season and has reached the 30-point mark three times. Â Adams has continued to shine as one of the conference's premier post threats, putting up 17.5 points per game and 9.6 rebounds per game on the way to 12 double-doubles.
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JoJo Lacey has also stepped up to provide support on the offensive end of late for Washington's team. Â A graduate transfer from Boston College, Lacey erupted for 22 points in Rutgers' win over Purdue.
SERIES STUFF
Monday's nationally televised clash marks only the 17th all-time meeting between Northwestern and Rutgers in women's basketball. After sweeping the season series in 2023-24, the Wildcats lead the all-time series, 9-7 (.562).
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Northwestern tallied just its second win in seven tries on the road against the Scarlet Knights last season, downing Rutgers by a final count of 72-61 at Jersey Mike's Arena on March 3, 2024. Led by a 4-for-4 showing from deep by Lau, the Wildcats knocked down eight three-point field goals in the win, operating at a blistering 53.3 percent clip from beyond the arc.
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Walsh (22.0 ppg) and Melannie Daley (20.0 ppg) were dominant in both of the Wildcats' wins over Rutgers last season, each averaging 20-plus points per game.
UP NEXT
Northwestern returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena on Thursday, February 20 to battle No. 17 Maryland in a 6:30 p.m. CT tip-off that will air on Big Ten Network.