Northwestern University Athletics
Wednesday, February 25
College Park, Md.
5:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
8-20,2-15Big Ten
57
at
79
Maryland
23-6,11-6Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Northwestern
14
17
14
12
57
Maryland
20
24
19
16
79
Photo by: Gail Burton/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Drops Road Finale At No. 14 Maryland, 79-57
2/25/2026 7:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Sullivan leads Wildcats with 23 points
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (February 25, 2026) – Grace Sullivan recorded her 18th game of 20-plus points as Northwestern (8-20, 2-15 B1G) fell to No. 14 Maryland (23-6, 11-6 B1G) in its 2025-26 road finale, 79-57, this evening inside XFINITY Center in College Park, Md.
How It Happened
Following a split at the free throw line by Tayla Thomas that got Northwestern on the board, Caroline Lau drove inside and converted to trim Maryland's early lead to 4-3. Lau turned from scorer to distributor shortly after, connecting with Casey Harter to pull the 'Cats within three, 10-7. After seeing Maryland stretch its lead to 18-11, Harter received a friendly roll on a corner trey to cut the margin to four, 18-14, ahead of a Mir McLean score that gave the Terrapins a 20-14 edge at the end of the opening frame.
Northwestern quickly battled back within two, as baskets from Sullivan and Kat Righeimer made it a one-score game, 20-18. Maryland answered, with triples from Saylor Poffenbarger and Rainey Welson stretching the Terrapins' lead into double digits, 28-18, as the hosts cruised into halftime with a 44-31 advantage.
Sullivan looked to will Northwestern back into the game during the middle stages of the third quarter, converting on a conventional three-point play ahead of knocking down a mid-range jumper to cut the gap to eight, 51-43.
Maryland extinguished any hopes of a rally shortly after, taking off on a 14-2 run that carried into the fourth quarter en route to notching its 23rd victory of the season.
Gallery: (2-25-2026) Women's Basketball at Maryland
Inside The Box Score
- Sullivan closed her night with 23 points (10-20 FGs, 3-3 FTs) and five rebounds.
- This evening marked Sullivan's 11th game of 20 points or more in Big Ten Conference play.
- Lau (4-10 FGs, 1-3 3FGs) and Harter (3-8 FGs, 1-3 3FGs, 2-2 FTs) added nine points apiece.
- Lau also came down with a season-high nine rebounds to lead Northwestern in the category.
- Both Lau and Xamiya Walton dished out four assists.
- Oluchi Okananwa led all scorers with 25 points (11-20 FGs, 3-7 FTs) for Maryland.
Up Next
Northwestern closes out the 2025-26 season when it hosts Purdue at 2 p.m. CT on Sunday, March 1. The Wildcats will honor their senior class ahead of tip-off, while a special ceremony to recognize head coach Joe McKeown will follow the game.
How It Happened
Following a split at the free throw line by Tayla Thomas that got Northwestern on the board, Caroline Lau drove inside and converted to trim Maryland's early lead to 4-3. Lau turned from scorer to distributor shortly after, connecting with Casey Harter to pull the 'Cats within three, 10-7. After seeing Maryland stretch its lead to 18-11, Harter received a friendly roll on a corner trey to cut the margin to four, 18-14, ahead of a Mir McLean score that gave the Terrapins a 20-14 edge at the end of the opening frame.
Northwestern quickly battled back within two, as baskets from Sullivan and Kat Righeimer made it a one-score game, 20-18. Maryland answered, with triples from Saylor Poffenbarger and Rainey Welson stretching the Terrapins' lead into double digits, 28-18, as the hosts cruised into halftime with a 44-31 advantage.
Sullivan looked to will Northwestern back into the game during the middle stages of the third quarter, converting on a conventional three-point play ahead of knocking down a mid-range jumper to cut the gap to eight, 51-43.
Maryland extinguished any hopes of a rally shortly after, taking off on a 14-2 run that carried into the fourth quarter en route to notching its 23rd victory of the season.
Inside The Box Score
- Sullivan closed her night with 23 points (10-20 FGs, 3-3 FTs) and five rebounds.
- This evening marked Sullivan's 11th game of 20 points or more in Big Ten Conference play.
- Lau (4-10 FGs, 1-3 3FGs) and Harter (3-8 FGs, 1-3 3FGs, 2-2 FTs) added nine points apiece.
- Lau also came down with a season-high nine rebounds to lead Northwestern in the category.
- Both Lau and Xamiya Walton dished out four assists.
- Oluchi Okananwa led all scorers with 25 points (11-20 FGs, 3-7 FTs) for Maryland.
Up Next
Northwestern closes out the 2025-26 season when it hosts Purdue at 2 p.m. CT on Sunday, March 1. The Wildcats will honor their senior class ahead of tip-off, while a special ceremony to recognize head coach Joe McKeown will follow the game.
Team Stats
NU
MD
FG%
.434
.442
3FG%
.200
.143
FT%
.692
.571
RB
35
43
TO
21
6
STL
0
11
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
10
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballWomen's Basketball - Illinois Postgame Press Conference (2/22/26)
Sunday, February 22
Women's Basketball - Michigan Postgame Press Conference (2/12/26)
Friday, February 13
Women's Basketball - USC Postgame Press Conference (2/5/26)
Friday, February 06
Women's Basketball - Northwestern Rallies Back, Downs Wisconsin, 66-61 (1/15/26)
Friday, January 16
