Thursday, February 6
Champaign, Ill.
6 p.m. CT
Northwestern
7-14,0-10Big Ten
60
at
73
lllinois
18-5,8-4Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Northwestern
13
12
20
15
60
Illinois
25
20
15
13
73
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Walsh, Daley Pace ‘Cats In 73-60 Defeat At Illinois
2/6/2025 9:16:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Northwestern returns home to host Penn State on Sunday afternoon
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (February 6, 2025) – Northwestern (7-14, 0-10 B1G) whittled a 21-point deficit down to nine late in the fourth quarter, but saw time run out on its comeback hopes as it fell to in-state rival Illinois (18-5, 8-4 B1G), 73-60, this evening inside State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill.
How It Happened
Both teams struggled to settle into a rhythm early, combining to miss on their first five attempts from the floor before Adalia McKenzie broke the scoreless deadlock at the 8:03 mark and gave Illinois a 2-0 lead. Caileigh Walsh countered on Northwestern's next trip down the floor, getting the 'Cats on the board, 2-2. Melannie Daley hit from mid-range to snap an 8-0 Illinois spurt, cutting the hosts' lead to 14-7, but the Fighting Illini kept their foot on the gas, opening up a 25-13 edge after the opening 10 minutes.
Caroline Lau dashed through traffic and converted to trim Illinois' lead to 29-15 with just less than two minutes gone in the second quarter. Daley rattled off six straight points, the last two of which closed the gap to 36-21 at the 3:08 mark. The Fighting Illini went into the locker room at halftime with momentum, as a Berry Wallace triple with time winding down staked Illinois to a 45-25 lead.
Northwestern quietly chipped away coming out of the break, thanks in part to holding Illinois without a make from the field for the first 5:06 of the third quarter. Six unanswered points from Walsh saw the 'Cats trim the deficit to 47-32 with 6:22 remaining in the frame. Taylor Williams finished through contact for an old-fashioned three-point play that made it 49-35, before a Lau floater in the closing minute pulled Northwestern back within 60-45 entering the fourth quarter.
Williams continued to attack, scoring off glass to make it a 13-point game, 60-47, with only 41 seconds gone. After seeing Illinois extend its lead out to 66-49, Northwestern looked to mount a final push. Another Williams bucket was followed by a conventional three-point play from Daley that reduced the margin to 66-54 with 2:39 to go. Walsh buried a corner three shortly after to get the deficit back down to single digits, 67-58, but the 'Cats would get no closer the rest of the evening.
Gallery: (2-6-2025) Women's Basketball at Illinois
Inside The Box Score
- Walsh scored 15 of her team-high 17 points (7-18 FGs, 1-5 3FGs, 2-2 FTs) during the second half.
- Walsh, who also added four rebounds and a block, has scored in double figures in 13 of her last 15 outings.
- Daley was terrific off the bench, pumping home 15 points (7-13 FGs, 1-1 FTs), in addition to a career-high tying seven rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
- Daley is currently averaging 11.3 points while shooting just shy of 45 percent against Big Ten Conference foes.
- Williams continued her strong play of late, rounding out a trio of 'Cats to score in double figures with 12 points.
- Over her last five games, Williams, who cracked the 10-point mark for the fifth time in six games this evening, is contributing 12.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.
- Reigning Big Ten Player of the Week Genesis Bryant led Illinois with a game-high 20 points (5-13 FGs, 3-5 3FGs, 7-8 FTs).
Up Next
Northwestern welcomes Penn State to Welsh-Ryan Arena for a Super Bowl Sunday matinee at 1 p.m. CT on Sunday, February 9. The clash with the Nittany Lions will serve as the program's annual celebration of National Girls & Women in Sports Day.
How It Happened
Both teams struggled to settle into a rhythm early, combining to miss on their first five attempts from the floor before Adalia McKenzie broke the scoreless deadlock at the 8:03 mark and gave Illinois a 2-0 lead. Caileigh Walsh countered on Northwestern's next trip down the floor, getting the 'Cats on the board, 2-2. Melannie Daley hit from mid-range to snap an 8-0 Illinois spurt, cutting the hosts' lead to 14-7, but the Fighting Illini kept their foot on the gas, opening up a 25-13 edge after the opening 10 minutes.
Caroline Lau dashed through traffic and converted to trim Illinois' lead to 29-15 with just less than two minutes gone in the second quarter. Daley rattled off six straight points, the last two of which closed the gap to 36-21 at the 3:08 mark. The Fighting Illini went into the locker room at halftime with momentum, as a Berry Wallace triple with time winding down staked Illinois to a 45-25 lead.
Northwestern quietly chipped away coming out of the break, thanks in part to holding Illinois without a make from the field for the first 5:06 of the third quarter. Six unanswered points from Walsh saw the 'Cats trim the deficit to 47-32 with 6:22 remaining in the frame. Taylor Williams finished through contact for an old-fashioned three-point play that made it 49-35, before a Lau floater in the closing minute pulled Northwestern back within 60-45 entering the fourth quarter.
Williams continued to attack, scoring off glass to make it a 13-point game, 60-47, with only 41 seconds gone. After seeing Illinois extend its lead out to 66-49, Northwestern looked to mount a final push. Another Williams bucket was followed by a conventional three-point play from Daley that reduced the margin to 66-54 with 2:39 to go. Walsh buried a corner three shortly after to get the deficit back down to single digits, 67-58, but the 'Cats would get no closer the rest of the evening.
Inside The Box Score
- Walsh scored 15 of her team-high 17 points (7-18 FGs, 1-5 3FGs, 2-2 FTs) during the second half.
- Walsh, who also added four rebounds and a block, has scored in double figures in 13 of her last 15 outings.
- Daley was terrific off the bench, pumping home 15 points (7-13 FGs, 1-1 FTs), in addition to a career-high tying seven rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
- Daley is currently averaging 11.3 points while shooting just shy of 45 percent against Big Ten Conference foes.
- Williams continued her strong play of late, rounding out a trio of 'Cats to score in double figures with 12 points.
- Over her last five games, Williams, who cracked the 10-point mark for the fifth time in six games this evening, is contributing 12.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.
- Reigning Big Ten Player of the Week Genesis Bryant led Illinois with a game-high 20 points (5-13 FGs, 3-5 3FGs, 7-8 FTs).
Up Next
Northwestern welcomes Penn State to Welsh-Ryan Arena for a Super Bowl Sunday matinee at 1 p.m. CT on Sunday, February 9. The clash with the Nittany Lions will serve as the program's annual celebration of National Girls & Women in Sports Day.
Team Stats
NU
Illini
FG%
.403
.489
3FG%
.091
.462
FT%
.643
.821
RB
31
29
TO
10
12
STL
5
2
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
15
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
4
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballF
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