Sunday, February 23
Madison, Wis.
2 p.m. CT
Northwestern
9-17,2-13Big Ten
68
at
73
Wisconsin
13-14,4-12Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Northwestern
18
16
9
25
68
Wisconsin
23
12
18
20
73
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Drops Road Finale At Wisconsin, 73-68
2/23/2025 5:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Walsh leads ‘Cats with 18 points, Williams records 11th double-double
MADISON, Wis. (February 23, 2025) – Caileigh Walsh finished with a team-high 18 points, while Taylor Williams posted her second double-double in as many games, as Northwestern (9-17, 2-13 B1G) fell to Wisconsin (13-14, 4-12 B1G) by a final count of 73-68 in its 2024-25 road finale this afternoon inside the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
Gallery: (2-23-2025) Women's Basketball vs. Wisconsin
How It Happened
Kyla Jones and Williams both converted inside in the game's opening minute, with the latter's bucket giving Northwestern a 4-2 lead. Back-to-back scores from Walsh put the 'Cats on top, 10-9, at the 6:17 mark. With Northwestern holding on to a 15-13 edge, Wisconsin ripped off eight straight, surging in front, 21-15, on a Lily Krahn triple. Grace Sullivan looked to provide the Wildcats a spark heading into the second quarter, as she finished in the paint in the closing seconds to trim the Badgers' lead to 23-18.
Walsh hit from outside 31 seconds into the second quarter to spark a 7-0 Northwestern run, a spurt capped off by a Caroline Lau runner that tied the game, 25-25. Walsh connected again from beyond the arc to stake the 'Cats to a slim 32-31 lead with 3:12 remaining in the first half. Halle Douglass sent the hosts into halftime with momentum, capping off a fast break with only four seconds left to give Wisconsin a 35-34 advantage.
Both teams started cold from the field coming out the locker room, with a Williams' second-chance score breaking a 2:11 drought on both ends, as the 'Cats reclaimed the lead, 36-35. Following a Walsh layup that saw Northwestern go back in front, 40-39, Wisconsin caught fire, taking a seven-point lead, 47-40, after a Serah Williams' post score punctuated an 8-0 run. An acrobatic layup from Casey Harter trimmed the margin to six, 49-43, but the Badgers again provided the frame's exclamation point, as a Carter McCray layup handed Wisconsin its largest lead of the day, 53-43.
Northwestern refused to go down without a fight, as it wasted no time in cutting into its deficit in the fourth quarter. Buckets on consecutive trips from Melannie Daley clawed the 'Cats within five, 56-51, and prompted a Wisconsin timeout with 6:29 to play in regulation. Two makes at the charity stripe from Williams made it a one-possession game, 56-53, but the Badgers responded with threes in short order from Tess Myers and Krahn, respectively, to stretch the gap back to eight, 62-54. Northwestern battled back within five on a pair of occasions down the stretch, but would get no closer the rest of the afternoon.
Inside The Box Score
- Walsh finished only two points off her season high, putting up 18 points (6-15 FGs, 2-7 3FGs, 4-6 FTs), in addition to eight rebounds and a season-high tying three blocks.
- Walsh has scored in double figures in all but six outings this season.
- Williams collected her team-best 11th double-double of 2024-25, finishing her day with 17 points (3-11 FGs, 11-12 FTs) and 11 rebounds.
- Daley scored 11 of her 17 points (6-15 FGs, 5-6 FTs) in the fourth quarter en route to reaching double figures in scoring for the seventh time in eight games.
- Lau, who added six points (2-5 FGs, 1-2 3FGs, 1-4 FTs), flirted with another double-double, tallying seven rebounds and seven assists
- McCray finished with a game-high 22 points (9-15 FGs, 4-6 FTs) for Wisconsin.
Up Next
Northwestern concludes the 2024-25 regular season when it welcomes Nebraska to Welsh-Ryan Arena for Senior Day on Sunday, March 2 at 2 p.m. CT.
How It Happened
Kyla Jones and Williams both converted inside in the game's opening minute, with the latter's bucket giving Northwestern a 4-2 lead. Back-to-back scores from Walsh put the 'Cats on top, 10-9, at the 6:17 mark. With Northwestern holding on to a 15-13 edge, Wisconsin ripped off eight straight, surging in front, 21-15, on a Lily Krahn triple. Grace Sullivan looked to provide the Wildcats a spark heading into the second quarter, as she finished in the paint in the closing seconds to trim the Badgers' lead to 23-18.
Walsh hit from outside 31 seconds into the second quarter to spark a 7-0 Northwestern run, a spurt capped off by a Caroline Lau runner that tied the game, 25-25. Walsh connected again from beyond the arc to stake the 'Cats to a slim 32-31 lead with 3:12 remaining in the first half. Halle Douglass sent the hosts into halftime with momentum, capping off a fast break with only four seconds left to give Wisconsin a 35-34 advantage.
Both teams started cold from the field coming out the locker room, with a Williams' second-chance score breaking a 2:11 drought on both ends, as the 'Cats reclaimed the lead, 36-35. Following a Walsh layup that saw Northwestern go back in front, 40-39, Wisconsin caught fire, taking a seven-point lead, 47-40, after a Serah Williams' post score punctuated an 8-0 run. An acrobatic layup from Casey Harter trimmed the margin to six, 49-43, but the Badgers again provided the frame's exclamation point, as a Carter McCray layup handed Wisconsin its largest lead of the day, 53-43.
Northwestern refused to go down without a fight, as it wasted no time in cutting into its deficit in the fourth quarter. Buckets on consecutive trips from Melannie Daley clawed the 'Cats within five, 56-51, and prompted a Wisconsin timeout with 6:29 to play in regulation. Two makes at the charity stripe from Williams made it a one-possession game, 56-53, but the Badgers responded with threes in short order from Tess Myers and Krahn, respectively, to stretch the gap back to eight, 62-54. Northwestern battled back within five on a pair of occasions down the stretch, but would get no closer the rest of the afternoon.
Inside The Box Score
- Walsh finished only two points off her season high, putting up 18 points (6-15 FGs, 2-7 3FGs, 4-6 FTs), in addition to eight rebounds and a season-high tying three blocks.
- Walsh has scored in double figures in all but six outings this season.
- Williams collected her team-best 11th double-double of 2024-25, finishing her day with 17 points (3-11 FGs, 11-12 FTs) and 11 rebounds.
- Daley scored 11 of her 17 points (6-15 FGs, 5-6 FTs) in the fourth quarter en route to reaching double figures in scoring for the seventh time in eight games.
- Lau, who added six points (2-5 FGs, 1-2 3FGs, 1-4 FTs), flirted with another double-double, tallying seven rebounds and seven assists
- McCray finished with a game-high 22 points (9-15 FGs, 4-6 FTs) for Wisconsin.
Up Next
Northwestern concludes the 2024-25 regular season when it welcomes Nebraska to Welsh-Ryan Arena for Senior Day on Sunday, March 2 at 2 p.m. CT.
Team Stats
NU
Wisc
FG%
.367
.431
3FG%
.273
.538
FT%
.700
.625
RB
41
37
TO
12
13
STL
6
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
17
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
11
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballF
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