Northwestern sought solace after another crushing blow on its home turf four days prior, traveling to the Land of 10,000 Lakes on Saturday in search of a bounce-back victory at Minnesota.
Instead, the Wildcats relived a narrative they’ve come to know all too well. In yet another 20-plus point loss, the ‘Cats fell 88-63 in their third-straight defeat.
Both squads entered the Saturday scuffle looking to overcome some of the prolonged struggles that have plagued their season. With the Golden Gophers bogged down by a six-game losing streak and the visitors still unable to defeat a team other than Wisconsin in 2024, the game represented a must-win scenario for both squads as they looked to regain their footing amid late-season woes.
NU trailed early as Minnesota guard Grace Grocholski notched three triples in the opening two and a half minutes, but after a timeout to talk things over, the squad was able to regroup and remain competitive.
In a first half scoring frenzy, shots were falling for both teams, with coach Joe McKeown’s squad shooting 52% from the field in the opening 20 minutes.
After halftime, the ‘Cats underwent a drastic transformation, putting on a bleak display in the third quarter that allowed the Minnesota lead to balloon to as much as 26 points.
Despite a better showing in the final quarter, the Golden Gopher lead was too large to overcome.
Here are three takeaways from NU’s loss to Minnesota
1. First quarter energy is a game-changer
Competing from the outset has been a consistent struggle for the ‘Cats this season.
In their Big-Ten gauntlet, they have only led after the first quarter on one occasion, often falling into early double-digit holes.
Two minutes into Saturday’s matchup, it seemed that things were not going to be any different.
The team’s typical struggles in ball-handling and offensive production led to an immediate seven-point deficit, but the ‘Cats regained composure after a timeout.
McKeown’s squad knocked down four first-frame triples after the timeout, including two from graduate student guard Maggie Pina.
2. On this episode of the Melannie Daley show…
In her first start since January 15, junior guard Melannie Daley drained the game’s first points just 26 seconds after tip-off.
Though she almost always starts the game on the bench, Daley leads NU in scoring so far this season, often providing a much-needed spark the moment she hits the floor when the ‘Cats find themselves in early holes.
Daley racked up 16 points, marking her 19th double-digit output game and her sixth in a row. She also had three steals in the loss as she made positive impacts for NU on both ends of the court.
3. Extended scoring droughts strike again
Though NU trailed by nine points at halftime, its momentum late in the game’s opening 20 minutes made it seem like they were much closer in contention.
Both teams scored on nearly every possession before the break and though Minnesota briefly pulled ahead in various instances, McKeown’s group rarely allowed the deficit to exceed more than a handful of points.
After the break, the ‘Cats fell back onto old habits, experiencing significant shooting drop-offs.
Four minutes into the third quarter, McKeown’s squad was still searching for its first second-half points.
With only two made field goals in the entire third quarter, Minnesota mounted a major second-half rout, leaving NU with more questions than answers.
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Twitter: @AudreyPachuta
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