Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, November 14
Evanston, Ill.
6:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
3-0,0-0Big Ten
69
vs
54
Maryland Eastern Shore
2-2,0-0MEAC
1
2
3
4
F
UMES
14
15
15
10
54
Northwestern
16
21
19
13
69
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Career Nights From Harter, Thomas Send ‘Cats Past Maryland Eastern Shore, 69-54
11/14/2025 10:33:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Northwestern off to first 3-0 start since 2021-22 season
EVANSTON, Ill. (November 14, 2025) – Casey Harter and Tayla Thomas both enjoyed career nights as Northwestern improved to 3-0 with a 69-54 win over Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) this evening inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
How It Happened
Harter knocked down her first three of the evening with just under two minutes gone, connecting on a corner trey that gave Northwestern a 5-4 edge. Grace Sullivan drained a pair of mid-range jumpers in short succession, the second of which knotted the score at 12-12. Sullivan and Xamiya Walton each hit a pair of free throws across the closing 90 seconds of the opening frame, as the 'Cats held a 16-14 lead heading to the second quarter.
Another Sullivan bucket sparked a 7-0 Wildcat run, a spurt punctuated by five straight points from Harter, the last two of which stretched the lead to 23-14. The visitors refused to go away, battling back to tie the game at 27-27 with three minutes remaining in the half. Triples on consecutive trips from Angelina Hodgens and Caroline Lau, respectively, laid the foundation for an 8-0 tear that saw Northwestern race into halftime with a 37-29 edge.
Northwestern wasted no time in pushing its lead into double digits coming out of the intermission. Buckets from Tate Lash and Thomas stretched the gap to 41-29 and prompted a UMES timeout. The Hawks again mounted a charge, closing back within six, 43-37, but another Harter triple ignited an 11-3 run that saw the lead balloon to 54-40.
The Wildcats took their largest lead of the night, 69-48, on a Thomas jumper in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, as Northwestern cruised to a third straight victory to begin the 2025-26 season.
Inside The Box Score
- Harter finished with a career-high 19 points (6-10 FGs, 5-7 3FGs, 2-2 FTs) and eight rebounds.
- Harter connected on a career-best five attempts from beyond the three-point arc.
- Thomas joined Harter in putting up a new career-best scoring output, adding 16 points (7-10 FGs, 1-2 3FGs, 1-2 FTs), in addition to 11 rebounds to pick up her second double-double of the year.
- Sullivan scored in double figures for a third straight game, matching Thomas with 16 points (7-13 FGs, 2-4 FTs) of her own.
- Lau put up her 42nd career outing with at least five assists, dishing out eight helpers as Northwestern assisted on 21 of its 24 made field goals.
- Hodgens provided Northwestern with a spark off the bench, adding five points (1-3 FGs, 1-2 3FGs, 2-2 FTs), three assists, and a steal.
- Ashanti Lynch paced UMES with 17 points (8-18 FGs, 1-1 FTs).
Up Next
Northwestern hits the road for the first time in 2025-26 on Monday, November 17, making the short trip south to Wintrust Arena for an 11 a.m. CT matchup with DePaul.
Gallery: (11-14-2025) Women's Basketball vs. UMES
How It Happened
Harter knocked down her first three of the evening with just under two minutes gone, connecting on a corner trey that gave Northwestern a 5-4 edge. Grace Sullivan drained a pair of mid-range jumpers in short succession, the second of which knotted the score at 12-12. Sullivan and Xamiya Walton each hit a pair of free throws across the closing 90 seconds of the opening frame, as the 'Cats held a 16-14 lead heading to the second quarter.
Another Sullivan bucket sparked a 7-0 Wildcat run, a spurt punctuated by five straight points from Harter, the last two of which stretched the lead to 23-14. The visitors refused to go away, battling back to tie the game at 27-27 with three minutes remaining in the half. Triples on consecutive trips from Angelina Hodgens and Caroline Lau, respectively, laid the foundation for an 8-0 tear that saw Northwestern race into halftime with a 37-29 edge.
Northwestern wasted no time in pushing its lead into double digits coming out of the intermission. Buckets from Tate Lash and Thomas stretched the gap to 41-29 and prompted a UMES timeout. The Hawks again mounted a charge, closing back within six, 43-37, but another Harter triple ignited an 11-3 run that saw the lead balloon to 54-40.
The Wildcats took their largest lead of the night, 69-48, on a Thomas jumper in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, as Northwestern cruised to a third straight victory to begin the 2025-26 season.
Inside The Box Score
- Harter finished with a career-high 19 points (6-10 FGs, 5-7 3FGs, 2-2 FTs) and eight rebounds.
- Harter connected on a career-best five attempts from beyond the three-point arc.
- Thomas joined Harter in putting up a new career-best scoring output, adding 16 points (7-10 FGs, 1-2 3FGs, 1-2 FTs), in addition to 11 rebounds to pick up her second double-double of the year.
- Sullivan scored in double figures for a third straight game, matching Thomas with 16 points (7-13 FGs, 2-4 FTs) of her own.
- Lau put up her 42nd career outing with at least five assists, dishing out eight helpers as Northwestern assisted on 21 of its 24 made field goals.
- Hodgens provided Northwestern with a spark off the bench, adding five points (1-3 FGs, 1-2 3FGs, 2-2 FTs), three assists, and a steal.
- Ashanti Lynch paced UMES with 17 points (8-18 FGs, 1-1 FTs).
Up Next
Northwestern hits the road for the first time in 2025-26 on Monday, November 17, making the short trip south to Wintrust Arena for an 11 a.m. CT matchup with DePaul.
Team Stats
UMES
NU
FG%
.400
.444
3FG%
.231
.348
FT%
.583
.591
RB
33
34
TO
18
15
STL
8
5
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
5
FTM
2
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballWomen's Basketball - Maryland Eastern Shore Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, November 15
Women's Basketball - 'Cats Stay Perfect, Down Maryland Eastern Shore, 69-54 (11/14/25)
Saturday, November 15
Women's Basketball - 'Cats Move To 2-0, Cruise Past SIUE, 64-51 (11/9/25)
Sunday, November 09
Women's Basketball - SIUE Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, November 09
