Sunday, January 19
Evanston, Ill.
2 p.m. CT
Northwestern
7-10,0-6Big Ten
82
vs
87
Minnesota
17-2,5-2Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Minnesota
23
17
18
29
87
Northwestern
21
23
25
13
82
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
No. 24 Minnesota Rallies Past Northwestern, 87-82
1/19/2025 7:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Sullivan leads quartet to score in double figures with 18 points
EVANSTON, Ill. (January 19, 2025) – Northwestern (7-10, 0-6 B1G) pushed No. 24 Minnesota (17-2, 5-2 B1G) to the brink, ultimately dropping an 87-82 decision to the visiting Golden Gophers this afternoon inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Gallery: (1-19-2025) Women's Basketball vs. #24 Minnesota
How It Happened
Northwestern couldn't miss from distance early on, hitting on three of its first four attempts from beyond the three-point arc. A Caileigh Walsh triple opened the scoring just 20 seconds in before treys from Caroline Lau and Kyla Jones, respectively, gave the 'Cats a 9-4 edge. Grace Sullivan caught fire as the frame wore on, connecting on four straight attempts from the floor, the last of which staked Northwestern to a 21-17 lead. Minnesota answered back, as threes on consecutive trips from Annika Stewart and Grace Grocholski put the visitors back on top, 23-21, at the end of the first quarter.
After seeing its deficit grow as high as eight in the second frame, another Lau triple sparked a 7-0 Northwestern run, a surge capped off by a turnaround jumper from Taylor Williams that trimmed the margin to one, 31-30, with 5:14 remaining in the half. Williams went to work inside shortly after, muscling up an effort to give the 'Cats a 36-35 lead. Following a Melannie Daley three that put the 'Cats back on top, 41-40, Walsh finished through contact with time winding down on the way to a conventional three-point play as Northwestern raced into the locker room with a 44-40 halftime lead.
Sullivan continued her big afternoon in the third quarter, converting off a feed from Lau with three minutes gone to stretch the gap to 51-44. Minnesota continued to hang around, closing within two, 55-53, on an Alexsia Rose bucket inside with 3:40 to play. Northwestern responded, with two Williams buckets bookending a mid-range make from Sullivan as the lead extended into double digits, 66-55. Jones connected on a corner three with only 10 seconds to go that pushed Northwestern's advantage to 69-55 before McKinney countered with a three of her own as time expired to cut the Wildcat lead to 69-58 heading to the fourth quarter.
A driving score by Jones at the 8:09 mark gave Northwestern its largest lead of the afternoon, 74-58. Slowly but surely, Minnesota chipped away, clawing back within nine, 76-67, on a Nimaya Holloway layup with 5:35 to play. A post score from Walsh reestablished an eight-point lead, 78-70, but the Golden Gophers refused to fold, ultimately pulling even, 80-80, on McKinney's fourth three of the afternoon. Back-to-back Holloway buckets sent Minnesota in front, 84-80, with only 44 seconds to play in regulation. Walsh finished in traffic shortly after to get Northwestern back within two, 84-82, but the 'Cats would get no closer, as Minnesota iced the game from the free throw line.
Inside The Box Score
- Sullivan paced a quartet of Wildcats to score in double figures on the afternoon with a team-high 18 points (9-13 FGs).
- Sullivan was also credited with a career-high four blocks as Northwestern finished with a season-best nine rejections as a team.
- Walsh scored in double figures for the 10th time in her last 11 appearances, putting up 17 points (7-12 FGs, 1-3 3FGs, 2-3 FTs).
- Jones matched Walsh on the day, adding 17 points (6-8 FGs, 2-2 3FGs, 3-4 FTs) of her own, 10 of which came in the second half.
- Williams posted her seventh double-double of the year, finishing with 11 points (4-10 FGs, 3-4 FTs) and 10 rebounds.
- Williams also dished out a season-high five assists.
- Led by seven helpers from Lau, Northwestern piled up a season-best 29 assists.
- The Wildcats, who committed a season-low five turnovers, assisted on 29 of their 32 made field goals.
- Grocholski led all scorers with 27 points (8-14 FGs, 2-5 3FGs, 9-9 FTs) for Minnesota.
Up Next
Northwestern will turn its attention towards a showdown with in-state rival Illinois on Thursday, January 23. The 7 p.m. CT matchup will be televised on Big Ten Network.
How It Happened
Northwestern couldn't miss from distance early on, hitting on three of its first four attempts from beyond the three-point arc. A Caileigh Walsh triple opened the scoring just 20 seconds in before treys from Caroline Lau and Kyla Jones, respectively, gave the 'Cats a 9-4 edge. Grace Sullivan caught fire as the frame wore on, connecting on four straight attempts from the floor, the last of which staked Northwestern to a 21-17 lead. Minnesota answered back, as threes on consecutive trips from Annika Stewart and Grace Grocholski put the visitors back on top, 23-21, at the end of the first quarter.
After seeing its deficit grow as high as eight in the second frame, another Lau triple sparked a 7-0 Northwestern run, a surge capped off by a turnaround jumper from Taylor Williams that trimmed the margin to one, 31-30, with 5:14 remaining in the half. Williams went to work inside shortly after, muscling up an effort to give the 'Cats a 36-35 lead. Following a Melannie Daley three that put the 'Cats back on top, 41-40, Walsh finished through contact with time winding down on the way to a conventional three-point play as Northwestern raced into the locker room with a 44-40 halftime lead.
Sullivan continued her big afternoon in the third quarter, converting off a feed from Lau with three minutes gone to stretch the gap to 51-44. Minnesota continued to hang around, closing within two, 55-53, on an Alexsia Rose bucket inside with 3:40 to play. Northwestern responded, with two Williams buckets bookending a mid-range make from Sullivan as the lead extended into double digits, 66-55. Jones connected on a corner three with only 10 seconds to go that pushed Northwestern's advantage to 69-55 before McKinney countered with a three of her own as time expired to cut the Wildcat lead to 69-58 heading to the fourth quarter.
A driving score by Jones at the 8:09 mark gave Northwestern its largest lead of the afternoon, 74-58. Slowly but surely, Minnesota chipped away, clawing back within nine, 76-67, on a Nimaya Holloway layup with 5:35 to play. A post score from Walsh reestablished an eight-point lead, 78-70, but the Golden Gophers refused to fold, ultimately pulling even, 80-80, on McKinney's fourth three of the afternoon. Back-to-back Holloway buckets sent Minnesota in front, 84-80, with only 44 seconds to play in regulation. Walsh finished in traffic shortly after to get Northwestern back within two, 84-82, but the 'Cats would get no closer, as Minnesota iced the game from the free throw line.
Inside The Box Score
- Sullivan paced a quartet of Wildcats to score in double figures on the afternoon with a team-high 18 points (9-13 FGs).
- Sullivan was also credited with a career-high four blocks as Northwestern finished with a season-best nine rejections as a team.
- Walsh scored in double figures for the 10th time in her last 11 appearances, putting up 17 points (7-12 FGs, 1-3 3FGs, 2-3 FTs).
- Jones matched Walsh on the day, adding 17 points (6-8 FGs, 2-2 3FGs, 3-4 FTs) of her own, 10 of which came in the second half.
- Williams posted her seventh double-double of the year, finishing with 11 points (4-10 FGs, 3-4 FTs) and 10 rebounds.
- Williams also dished out a season-high five assists.
- Led by seven helpers from Lau, Northwestern piled up a season-best 29 assists.
- The Wildcats, who committed a season-low five turnovers, assisted on 29 of their 32 made field goals.
- Grocholski led all scorers with 27 points (8-14 FGs, 2-5 3FGs, 9-9 FTs) for Minnesota.
Up Next
Northwestern will turn its attention towards a showdown with in-state rival Illinois on Thursday, January 23. The 7 p.m. CT matchup will be televised on Big Ten Network.
Team Stats
MINN
NU
FG%
.500
.492
3FG%
.438
.467
FT%
.846
.688
RB
37
30
TO
8
5
STL
2
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
9
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballF
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