INDIANAPOLIS – Four Wildcats scored in double figures and Ashley Deary and Nia Coffey paced Chicago's Big Ten Team with double-doubles as Northwestern upset fifth-seeded Minnesota 84-74 in the second round of the 2016 Women's Basketball Big Ten Tournament.
With the victory, Northwestern becomes the first No. 12 seed to beat a No. 5 seed in Big Ten Tournament history.
Coffey led the 'Cats with 25 points and 12 boards, while Deary notched her fifth double-double of the year with 12 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Junior Christen Inman contributed 18, while freshman Jordan Hankins poured in a career-high 14 points.
The teams exchanged baskets in the early goings of the game, but an Inman triple in the fifth minute triggered a 10-0 run for the Wildcats. Hankins logged a pair of 3-pointers and Northwestern went ahead 21-11 after just 10 minutes of action.
Minnesota opened the second frame with back-to-back layups, but an Inman trey stopped the run to give the Wildcats a nine-point advantage. The teams swapped blows over the next few minutes before the Gophers used a 9-0 surge to tie the game at 31 with 3:09 left in the half. Rohde and Coffey teamed up for a pair of 3-pointers to take control as Chicago's Big Ten Team entered the halftime break with a 39-35 lead.
Coffey opened up the second half with another 3-pointer to spark an 8-2 run and force Minnesota to call for a timeout. The Wildcats came out of the huddle with another Coffey basket to build a double-digit advantage, 49-39. Northwestern hung on to a convincing lead for the rest of the third quarter.
The Gophers hit consecutive layups and drained a pair of free throws to come within one with 8:22 left on the clock, but Coffey scored the next nine points for the 'Cats. With four minutes remaining, Minnesota came within two, courtesy of seven-consecutive points from Banham, but she was no match for the #B1GCats.
For the game, Northwestern shot 39 percent (28-72) from the field, 33 percent (9-27) from 3-point range and 79 percent (19-24) from the free-throw line. Minnesota connected on 36 percent (26-72) of its shots, 27 percent (7-26) from beyond the arc and 75 percent (15-20) from the charity stripe.
The Wildcats return to the hardwood tomorrow for the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals to face fourth-seeded Indiana. The teams will tipoff 25 minutes following the first game of the session at approximately 1:30 p.m. CST.
With the victory, Northwestern becomes the first No. 12 seed to beat a No. 5 seed in Big Ten Tournament history.
Coffey led the 'Cats with 25 points and 12 boards, while Deary notched her fifth double-double of the year with 12 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Junior Christen Inman contributed 18, while freshman Jordan Hankins poured in a career-high 14 points.
The teams exchanged baskets in the early goings of the game, but an Inman triple in the fifth minute triggered a 10-0 run for the Wildcats. Hankins logged a pair of 3-pointers and Northwestern went ahead 21-11 after just 10 minutes of action.
Minnesota opened the second frame with back-to-back layups, but an Inman trey stopped the run to give the Wildcats a nine-point advantage. The teams swapped blows over the next few minutes before the Gophers used a 9-0 surge to tie the game at 31 with 3:09 left in the half. Rohde and Coffey teamed up for a pair of 3-pointers to take control as Chicago's Big Ten Team entered the halftime break with a 39-35 lead.
Coffey opened up the second half with another 3-pointer to spark an 8-2 run and force Minnesota to call for a timeout. The Wildcats came out of the huddle with another Coffey basket to build a double-digit advantage, 49-39. Northwestern hung on to a convincing lead for the rest of the third quarter.
The Gophers hit consecutive layups and drained a pair of free throws to come within one with 8:22 left on the clock, but Coffey scored the next nine points for the 'Cats. With four minutes remaining, Minnesota came within two, courtesy of seven-consecutive points from Banham, but she was no match for the #B1GCats.
For the game, Northwestern shot 39 percent (28-72) from the field, 33 percent (9-27) from 3-point range and 79 percent (19-24) from the free-throw line. Minnesota connected on 36 percent (26-72) of its shots, 27 percent (7-26) from beyond the arc and 75 percent (15-20) from the charity stripe.
The Wildcats return to the hardwood tomorrow for the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals to face fourth-seeded Indiana. The teams will tipoff 25 minutes following the first game of the session at approximately 1:30 p.m. CST.