Sunday, February 9
Evanston, Ill.
1 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Penn State
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Readies For Super Bowl Sunday Matinee With Penn State
2/8/2025 11:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
'Cats to celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day against Nittany Lions
EVANSTON, Ill. (February 8, 2025) – After falling on the road earlier in the week, Northwestern (7-14, 0-10 B1G) looks to get back in the win column when it hosts Penn State in a Super Bowl Sunday clash at 1 p.m. CT inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. Sunday's date with the Nittany Lions will serve as the program's annual celebration of National Girls & Women in Sports Day.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern chipped a 21-point third-quarter deficit down to nine late in the fourth quarter, but saw its comeback efforts run out of time in a 73-60 defeat against in-state rival Illinois on Thursday inside State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill.
Caileigh Walsh led the way for the 'Cats, finishing with a team-high 17 points, her 13th double-figure scoring effort in 15 contests. Walsh put up 15 points in the second half. Melannie Daley was active at both ends of the floor, coming off the bench to score 15 points, while also grabbing a career-high tying seven rebounds and dishing out three assists. Taylor Williams surpassed the 10-point mark for the fifth time in six games, adding 12 points. Across Northwestern's last five games, Williams is averaging 12.2 points.
SCOUTING PENN STATE
Penn State arrives in Evanston mired in a four-game skid that has seen its record slip to 10-13 overall (1-11 B1G). The Nittany Lions' lone Big Ten win turned heads, as they dealt then No. 9 Ohio State its first defeat of 2024-25 in a 62-59 win on January 19 in University Park, Pa.
Head coach Carolyn Kieger's team got off to a red-hot start this season, beginning the year with an 8-0 record for the first time since the 1993-94 campaign. The Nittany Lions' non-conference run was highlighted by a 67-47 rout of Georgia at the State Farm Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Showcase on November 23.
Gracie Merkle has impressed in her first season at Penn State. The Bellarmine transfer averages 15.1 points and 8.3 rebounds, both team high marks. Merkle, who also leads the Nittany Lions in blocks (34; 1.5 bpg), leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth nationally in field goal percentage, operating at a blistering 67 percent clip from the floor. Gabby Elliot (12.7 ppg) and Moriah Murray (11.0 ppg) also average in double figures in scoring for Penn State. Murray has established herself as one of the Big Ten's preeminent threats from deep, having knocked down a league-best 64 three-point field goals (2.78 3FG/game).
SERIES STUFF
Winners of three straight and four of its last five meetings against Northwestern, Penn State holds a commanding 42-12 (.778) lead across 54 previous meetings with the Wildcats.
Northwestern's lone victory in the aforementioned stretch came on February 6, 2022 when the 'Cats roared back from an early 11-point deficit to secure a 78-72 win at the Bryce Jordan Center. Veronica Burton finished with a team-high 22 points in the victory, leading a group five Wildcats to score in double figures.
Walsh impressed in Northwestern's two matchups against the Nittany Lions last season, averaging 16.5 points and 10.0 rebounds.
UP NEXT
Northwestern kicks off a two-game road swing on Wednesday, February 12 with a 6 p.m. CT tip-off against Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern chipped a 21-point third-quarter deficit down to nine late in the fourth quarter, but saw its comeback efforts run out of time in a 73-60 defeat against in-state rival Illinois on Thursday inside State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill.
Caileigh Walsh led the way for the 'Cats, finishing with a team-high 17 points, her 13th double-figure scoring effort in 15 contests. Walsh put up 15 points in the second half. Melannie Daley was active at both ends of the floor, coming off the bench to score 15 points, while also grabbing a career-high tying seven rebounds and dishing out three assists. Taylor Williams surpassed the 10-point mark for the fifth time in six games, adding 12 points. Across Northwestern's last five games, Williams is averaging 12.2 points.
SCOUTING PENN STATE
Penn State arrives in Evanston mired in a four-game skid that has seen its record slip to 10-13 overall (1-11 B1G). The Nittany Lions' lone Big Ten win turned heads, as they dealt then No. 9 Ohio State its first defeat of 2024-25 in a 62-59 win on January 19 in University Park, Pa.
Head coach Carolyn Kieger's team got off to a red-hot start this season, beginning the year with an 8-0 record for the first time since the 1993-94 campaign. The Nittany Lions' non-conference run was highlighted by a 67-47 rout of Georgia at the State Farm Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Showcase on November 23.
Gracie Merkle has impressed in her first season at Penn State. The Bellarmine transfer averages 15.1 points and 8.3 rebounds, both team high marks. Merkle, who also leads the Nittany Lions in blocks (34; 1.5 bpg), leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth nationally in field goal percentage, operating at a blistering 67 percent clip from the floor. Gabby Elliot (12.7 ppg) and Moriah Murray (11.0 ppg) also average in double figures in scoring for Penn State. Murray has established herself as one of the Big Ten's preeminent threats from deep, having knocked down a league-best 64 three-point field goals (2.78 3FG/game).
SERIES STUFF
Winners of three straight and four of its last five meetings against Northwestern, Penn State holds a commanding 42-12 (.778) lead across 54 previous meetings with the Wildcats.
Northwestern's lone victory in the aforementioned stretch came on February 6, 2022 when the 'Cats roared back from an early 11-point deficit to secure a 78-72 win at the Bryce Jordan Center. Veronica Burton finished with a team-high 22 points in the victory, leading a group five Wildcats to score in double figures.
Walsh impressed in Northwestern's two matchups against the Nittany Lions last season, averaging 16.5 points and 10.0 rebounds.
UP NEXT
Northwestern kicks off a two-game road swing on Wednesday, February 12 with a 6 p.m. CT tip-off against Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind.
Players Mentioned
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