Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, November 28
Fort Myers, Fla.
10 a.m. CT
Northwestern
6-0,0-0Big Ten
62
vs
59
Abilene Christian
4-2,0-0WAC
1
2
3
4
F
Abilene Christian
18
6
22
13
59
Northwestern
21
8
16
17
62
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Sullivan, ‘Cats Grind Past Abilene Christian In Fort Myers Tip-Off Opener, 62-59
11/28/2025 1:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Senior forward reaches 20-point mark for third straight game
FORT MYERS, Fla. (November 28, 2025) – Grace Sullivan reached the 20-point mark for the third time in as many games, as Northwestern battled to a 62-59 win over Abilene Christian (4-2) this afternoon in the opening game of the Elevance Health Women's Fort Myers Tip-Off in Fort Myers, Fla.
Today's victory inside Suncoast Credit Union Arena sees the Wildcats continue their perfect start to 2025-26, improving to 6-0.
How It Happened
Northwestern charged out of the gate, with buckets from Sullivan and Tayla Thomas preceding a Casey Harter triple that gave the 'Cats a 9-2 lead at the 6:28 mark. After seeing Abilene Christian respond with an 8-0 run to go in front, Xamiya Walton provided a spark off the bench, hitting on a pair of threes to put Northwestern back in front, as the Wildcats held a 21-18 lead at the end of the opening frame.
Offense came at a premium in the second quarter, with the two teams combining to shoot just south of 19 percent (6-of-32). Tate Lash weaved through traffic and converted to push the Northwestern lead to 25-21 with 5:47 remaining. With the margin sitting at 25-24 following an Emma Troxell trey, Sullivan put up the final four points of the half, the last two of which came on a buzzer-beating jumper that sent Northwestern into the locker room with a 29-24 edge.
Lash looked to catch fire coming out of the intermission, hitting on a pair of treys to give the Wildcats their largest lead of the afternoon, 39-31, with three minutes gone. Abilene Christian refused to go away quietly, as it charged back to take a 46-45 lead heading to the fourth quarter.
Following a pair of Meredith Mayes free throws that stretched Abilene Christian's lead to 48-45, Northwestern took off on an 11-2 run. A Sullivan fast break score put the 'Cats back on top, 51-50, before Harter connected again from beyond the arc to stretch the gap to 54-50 with 3:45 remaining in regulation. Abilene Christian would close back within one on a pair of occasions in the closing seconds, but Lash iced the game from the line, hitting on four straight attempts from the charity stripe to seal a sixth straight win for Northwestern.
Inside The Box Score
- Sullivan paced a trio of Wildcats in double figures with a game-high 22 points (11-21 FGs), in addition to hauling in nine rebounds.
- Sullivan has led Northwestern in scoring in five games this season.
- Harter (4-8 FGs, 2-4 3FGs, 2-2 FTs) and Lash (3-8 FGs, 2-4 3FGs, 4-4 FTs) added 12 points apiece.
- Thomas reached double figures in rebounding for a fifth time in six outings, pulling down a game-high 12 boards to go along with eight points (4-8 FGs), two blocks, and two steals.
- Led by Thomas' efforts, Northwestern outrebounded Abilene Christian by a 40-32 margin, winning the battle on the glass for the fifth time this season.
- Caroline Lau dished out a game-high nine assists.
- Troxell paced Abilene Christian with 13 points (4-14 FGs, 1-8 3FGs, 4-4 FTs) as the Wildcats became the third opponent Northwestern has held under 60 points in 2025-26.
Up Next
Northwestern closes out its stay at the Elevance Health Women's Fort Myers Tip-Off on Saturday, November 29 with a 12:30 p.m. CT clash with Missouri on ION.
Gallery: (11-28-2025) Women's Basketball vs. Abilene Christian
Today's victory inside Suncoast Credit Union Arena sees the Wildcats continue their perfect start to 2025-26, improving to 6-0.
'CATS WIN ?? pic.twitter.com/WIoZBBPIrG
— Northwestern Women's Basketball (@nuwbball) November 28, 2025
How It Happened
Northwestern charged out of the gate, with buckets from Sullivan and Tayla Thomas preceding a Casey Harter triple that gave the 'Cats a 9-2 lead at the 6:28 mark. After seeing Abilene Christian respond with an 8-0 run to go in front, Xamiya Walton provided a spark off the bench, hitting on a pair of threes to put Northwestern back in front, as the Wildcats held a 21-18 lead at the end of the opening frame.
Offense came at a premium in the second quarter, with the two teams combining to shoot just south of 19 percent (6-of-32). Tate Lash weaved through traffic and converted to push the Northwestern lead to 25-21 with 5:47 remaining. With the margin sitting at 25-24 following an Emma Troxell trey, Sullivan put up the final four points of the half, the last two of which came on a buzzer-beating jumper that sent Northwestern into the locker room with a 29-24 edge.
Lash looked to catch fire coming out of the intermission, hitting on a pair of treys to give the Wildcats their largest lead of the afternoon, 39-31, with three minutes gone. Abilene Christian refused to go away quietly, as it charged back to take a 46-45 lead heading to the fourth quarter.
Following a pair of Meredith Mayes free throws that stretched Abilene Christian's lead to 48-45, Northwestern took off on an 11-2 run. A Sullivan fast break score put the 'Cats back on top, 51-50, before Harter connected again from beyond the arc to stretch the gap to 54-50 with 3:45 remaining in regulation. Abilene Christian would close back within one on a pair of occasions in the closing seconds, but Lash iced the game from the line, hitting on four straight attempts from the charity stripe to seal a sixth straight win for Northwestern.
Inside The Box Score
- Sullivan paced a trio of Wildcats in double figures with a game-high 22 points (11-21 FGs), in addition to hauling in nine rebounds.
- Sullivan has led Northwestern in scoring in five games this season.
- Harter (4-8 FGs, 2-4 3FGs, 2-2 FTs) and Lash (3-8 FGs, 2-4 3FGs, 4-4 FTs) added 12 points apiece.
- Thomas reached double figures in rebounding for a fifth time in six outings, pulling down a game-high 12 boards to go along with eight points (4-8 FGs), two blocks, and two steals.
- Led by Thomas' efforts, Northwestern outrebounded Abilene Christian by a 40-32 margin, winning the battle on the glass for the fifth time this season.
- Caroline Lau dished out a game-high nine assists.
- Troxell paced Abilene Christian with 13 points (4-14 FGs, 1-8 3FGs, 4-4 FTs) as the Wildcats became the third opponent Northwestern has held under 60 points in 2025-26.
Up Next
Northwestern closes out its stay at the Elevance Health Women's Fort Myers Tip-Off on Saturday, November 29 with a 12:30 p.m. CT clash with Missouri on ION.
Team Stats
ACU
NU
FG%
.357
.417
3FG%
.300
.316
FT%
.813
.600
RB
32
40
TO
17
21
STL
12
9
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
11
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
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