Northwestern University Athletics
Sunday, March 3
Piscataway, N.J.
1 p.m. CT
Northwestern
at
Rutgers
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
'Cats Visit Rutgers for Regular Season Finale
3/2/2024 6:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Northwestern women's basketball will wrap up their regular season on the road Sunday as they face off with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the second of two meetings this year. Tip-off in Jersey Mike's Arena is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT on B1G+.
The 'Cats (8-20, 3-14 B1G) are in search of a season sweep against Rutgers (8-22, 2-15 B1G). The two teams met last on Dec. 30 in Evanston, where Northwestern came away with a 77-70 victory at home. Since then, both teams have won just two conference games - Rutgers over Nebraska and Minnesota, and Northwestern twice over Wisconsin.
As they have been so often this year, the 'Cats were led by Melannie Daley last time out. Against No. 14 Indiana on Tuesday, Daley fell just one point shy of matching her career high, tallying 24 points on 12-18 shooting. That performance was her tenth of the year with a better-than-.500 shooting percentage on ten or more field goal attempts, helping her to a 48.9 overall shooting percentage this season. That ranks eighth in the Big Ten and third among conference guards heading into Sunday's matchup.
Also helping out on all fronts was Hailey Weaver, who collected her 12th double-digit scoring performance of the season with 11 points on the evening. In addition to the offense, Weaver led the defense with four steals and two blocks, both of which tied season highs.
Sunday's match-up will be the 16th all-time between Northwestern and Rutgers, with Northwestern leading the series eight games to seven. The contest will determine seeding in the conference tournament, with the winner claiming the 13 seed and the loser falling to 14th.
The Big Ten will release the full tournament bracket on Sunday night following the conclusion of the regular season. Action will begin with the opening round on Wednesday evening, with all games to be hosted at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn.
The 'Cats (8-20, 3-14 B1G) are in search of a season sweep against Rutgers (8-22, 2-15 B1G). The two teams met last on Dec. 30 in Evanston, where Northwestern came away with a 77-70 victory at home. Since then, both teams have won just two conference games - Rutgers over Nebraska and Minnesota, and Northwestern twice over Wisconsin.
As they have been so often this year, the 'Cats were led by Melannie Daley last time out. Against No. 14 Indiana on Tuesday, Daley fell just one point shy of matching her career high, tallying 24 points on 12-18 shooting. That performance was her tenth of the year with a better-than-.500 shooting percentage on ten or more field goal attempts, helping her to a 48.9 overall shooting percentage this season. That ranks eighth in the Big Ten and third among conference guards heading into Sunday's matchup.
Also helping out on all fronts was Hailey Weaver, who collected her 12th double-digit scoring performance of the season with 11 points on the evening. In addition to the offense, Weaver led the defense with four steals and two blocks, both of which tied season highs.
Sunday's match-up will be the 16th all-time between Northwestern and Rutgers, with Northwestern leading the series eight games to seven. The contest will determine seeding in the conference tournament, with the winner claiming the 13 seed and the loser falling to 14th.
The Big Ten will release the full tournament bracket on Sunday night following the conclusion of the regular season. Action will begin with the opening round on Wednesday evening, with all games to be hosted at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn.
Players Mentioned
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