On the heels of a historic sellout at Welsh-Ryan Arena against Caitlin Clark and Iowa last Wednesday, Northwestern hosted Wisconsin for the teams’ second clash of the season.
When the Wildcats (8-14, 3-8 Big Ten) last faced off against the Badgers (10-11, 3-8 Big Ten) in January, they pulled away with a much-needed victory on the road. Entering Sunday’s contest, they hadn’t won a game since.
“We just needed a win like this. We needed it as a team because if you could come to practice, you’d see our hard work and how much they’re supporting each other as a team,” coach Joe McKeown said.
NU began the game with a 9-0 scoring run in the game’s first three minutes. In an electric first quarter performance, sophomore guard Caroline Lau and junior forward Caileigh Walsh combined for 12 points.
The tandem manufactured the team’s first eight points of the afternoon, setting the tone for a decisive win that NU desperately needed to break its five-game losing streak.
By halftime, the ‘Cats held an eight-point lead, capitalizing on the Badgers’ dismal 26.7% field goal percentage during the opening 20 minutes.
NU dominated Wisconsin after the break, outscoring the visitors 21-8 and solidifying a victory that had already begun to seem inevitable from the opening minutes.
With the win all but solidified, the ‘Cats cruised to the finish line in the fourth quarter.
Here are three takeaways from NU’s home victory over Wisconsin.
1. Dominant first quarter sparks momentum
For the first time all season, the ‘Cats led a Big Ten opponent after the opening quarter. McKeown’s squad tallied 19 points on an 8-of-17 team scoring clip.
Lau opened the team’s scoring with two quick layups in the first minute, setting the tone for what would become NU’s best opening frame all season.
On the defensive front, NU forced eight turnovers in the opening frame and generated 14 of their 19 points off relinquished Badger possessions.
Lau said improvements in communication were key in the squad’s defensive showing Sunday.
“We were really harping in on talking and communicating every possession, in transition and in half court,” she said.
2. It’s Caroline Lau’s world and we’re just living in it
In Sunday’s game, Lau never missed a shot.
As one of the premier passers in the Big Ten, the Connecticut native tends to make her impact in the assist column of the stat sheet. Prior to Sunday’s contest, she averaged 7.2 points and 5.8 assists per game.
In a season-best shooting performance, Lau proved her prowess in both playmaking and scoring, tallying 24 points on a perfect nine-of-nine clip, including four from beyond the arc.
“I haven’t been shooting well recently, but they were falling today so I just kept shooting,” Lau said.
Lau ranks second in the Big Ten and 13th nationally in assists per game this season.
3. NU looks ahead towards Illinois on Thursday
McKeown’s squad will look to build momentum after Sunday’s win, as they look to face in-state rival Illinois on Thursday.
The last time the ‘Cats faced off against the Fighting Illini, they lost by 41 points and had their worst team shooting clip of the season. Illinois entered that game in search of its first conference victory and found it in blowout fashion.
“Illinois came in here and played great from the start and we just couldn’t get any momentum, so hopefully we can go down there this week and get off to a great start,” McKeown said.
If NU hopes to find revenge when they travel to Champaign, McKeown’s group must bring the offensive prowess they displayed against Wisconsin.
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Twitter: @AudreyPachuta
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