Northwestern University Athletics
Monday, February 17
Piscataway, N.J.
7 p.m. CT
Northwestern
at
Rutgers
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
'Cats Jet East To Meet Rutgers Monday On BTN
2/16/2025 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Northwestern seeks third straight win over Scarlet Knights
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.
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.
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.
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. McMiller has 10 games of 20 points or more to her name this season and has reached the 30-point mark three times. 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.
JoJo Lacey has also stepped up to provide support on the offensive end of late for Washington's team. 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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. McMiller has 10 games of 20 points or more to her name this season and has reached the 30-point mark three times. 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.
JoJo Lacey has also stepped up to provide support on the offensive end of late for Washington's team. 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).
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.
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.
Players Mentioned
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