Northwestern University Athletics
Sunday, January 14
Evanston, Ill.
2 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Illinois
Photo by: Kylie Bridenhagen/Northwestern Athletics
'Cats Host Rival Illini at Welsh-Ryan Arena
1/13/2024 6:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern women's basketball returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena for a rivalry match-up against the Illinois Fighting Illini on Sunday afternoon in Evanston. Tip-off between the two teams is set for 2:00 p.m. and will be streamed free on B1G+.
The Wildcats (7-9, 2-3 B1G) are coming off their second conference victory of the season after defeating Wisconsin on the road Wednesday. Northwestern used a 19-point game from Caileigh Walsh and a double-double from Caroline Lau to take down the Badgers 74-69 for the first Big Ten road win of the year.
For Walsh, it was the fourth straight game as the 'Cats' leading scorer. Since conference play resumed on Dec. 30, the junior has been averaging 17.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, both of which lead the team. She fell two rebounds shy of her third double-double of the season on Wednesday with eight against the Badgers.
Lau completed the double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds - the first double-digit boards game of her career. With six assists as well, she contributed in all parts of the game. Those six helpers gave her 100 even on the season, placing her second in the Big Ten and 11th in the NCAA. At her current pace, Lau would finish the season with 189 assists, good for 11th in Northwestern single-season program history.
Also of note, Maggie Pina surpassed the 1,000-point mark for her career with seven points against the Badgers. The grad student will be honored ahead of Sunday's game for her accomplishment.
The visiting Illini are 6-8 heading into the match-up and will arrive in Evanston still in search of their first conference victory. Illinois has lost three straight to then-No. 16 Indiana, Wisconsin and Nebraska since Dec. 31 after dropping their Big Ten opener to Michigan on Dec. 10. Though the Illini won both of their meetings with Northwestern last season, the 'Cats won each of the 14 games prior to that, dating back to 2014, and still hold a 49-36 advantage in the all-time series.
After Sunday's game, the 'Cats will take to the road once again to face off with the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing next Wednesday. That game is scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m. CT on B1G+.
The Wildcats (7-9, 2-3 B1G) are coming off their second conference victory of the season after defeating Wisconsin on the road Wednesday. Northwestern used a 19-point game from Caileigh Walsh and a double-double from Caroline Lau to take down the Badgers 74-69 for the first Big Ten road win of the year.
For Walsh, it was the fourth straight game as the 'Cats' leading scorer. Since conference play resumed on Dec. 30, the junior has been averaging 17.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, both of which lead the team. She fell two rebounds shy of her third double-double of the season on Wednesday with eight against the Badgers.
Lau completed the double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds - the first double-digit boards game of her career. With six assists as well, she contributed in all parts of the game. Those six helpers gave her 100 even on the season, placing her second in the Big Ten and 11th in the NCAA. At her current pace, Lau would finish the season with 189 assists, good for 11th in Northwestern single-season program history.
Also of note, Maggie Pina surpassed the 1,000-point mark for her career with seven points against the Badgers. The grad student will be honored ahead of Sunday's game for her accomplishment.
The visiting Illini are 6-8 heading into the match-up and will arrive in Evanston still in search of their first conference victory. Illinois has lost three straight to then-No. 16 Indiana, Wisconsin and Nebraska since Dec. 31 after dropping their Big Ten opener to Michigan on Dec. 10. Though the Illini won both of their meetings with Northwestern last season, the 'Cats won each of the 14 games prior to that, dating back to 2014, and still hold a 49-36 advantage in the all-time series.
After Sunday's game, the 'Cats will take to the road once again to face off with the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing next Wednesday. That game is scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m. CT on B1G+.
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