B1G Game 10: Gophers Visit Northwestern (1-31-19)

Ignatius L Hoops

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WNIT Outlook: Dicey

Northwestern (6-3) is riding a four game win streak following a determined comeback last Sunday over the Illini in Champaign. A Veronica Burton half court, end of the third quarter, buzzer beater cut an 11 point Illinois lead to 8 launching an 18-0 run and resuscitating a stodgy Wildcat attack. The Wildcat win came despite being without two of its best players, Abi Scheid and Jordan Hamilton.

Injuries have disrupted Northwestern this season. Abi Scheid, is out for her second extended period with an ankle injury. Jordan Hamilton has missed several games this season and her status is uncertain for Thursday night’s contest in Northwestern’s newly remodeled gym. Nevertheless, Northwestern has some solid wins over Michigan State and at Indiana. The Wildcat losses have been close: overtime @ Michigan (NW led by 4 with 37 seconds remaining in regulation and missed two shots in the last three seconds), three points to Purdue (Pulliam missed a go ahead jumper with 4 seconds remaining) and four points at Rutgers (NW led 41-40 with 1:20 remaining).

Joe McKeown, now in his eleventh season in Evanston, parcels most of the playing time between nine player. Of course, that becomes 7 players if Scheid and Hamilton are out. Lindsay Pulliam (19.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in 35 minutes per B1G game) is the leading scorer. Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah (12.4 points and 12.0 rebounds in 27 minutes) is a player you must account for in the paint. The good news is that PKA is foul prone. Beyond that, it’s a bit of a mystery. Veronica Burton (6.9 points in 33.4 minutes) has started every B1G game and Bryana Hopkins is averaging 3.8 points in 22.1 minutes.

Last season, Minnesota (2-6) launched into B1G conference play routing the Wildcats in Evanston 90-63. Trailing by three at the end of one, the Gophers outscored Northwestern 31-18 in the second quarter and never looked back. Leading Minnesota were Kenisha Bell (22 points, 7 rebounds, 5 steals and 10 assists in 32 minutes) and Destiny Pitts (22 points and 11 rebounds in 35 minutes). Destiny was 6-10 from three; Minnesota was 10-23. Northwestern was led by Pulliam (22 points in 32 minutes), Kunaiyi-Akpanah (15 points, 10 rebounds in 22 minutes because of foul trouble) and Abi Scheid (13 points in 34 minutes).

Simply put: Northwestern, a team noted for making fourth quarter runs, is facing a team, Minnesota, noted for giving up fourth quarter runs.


B1G Wins: Illinois 68-45, Michigan State 70-62, @ Indiana 75-69, Wisconsin 72-46, @ Nebraska 58-54, @ Illinois 64-46

B1G Losses: @ Rutgers 41-45, @ Michigan 78-79 OT, Purdue 54-57.


Starters:

5’10” G So Lindsay Pulliam (27 points (11-13 from the line), 33 minutes versus )
6’2” F Sr Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah (21 points, 15 rebounds in 28 minutes versus Wisconsin)
6’2” F Jr Bryana Hopkins (11 points, 10 rebounds in 37 minutes versus Indiana)
5’9” G Fr Veronica Burton (19 points, 6 rebounds in 37 minutes versus Indiana)
5’8” G Jr Byrdy Galernik (5 points, 2 assists in 20 minutes versus Illinois)


Others:

6’4” F Jr Abbi Wolf (17 points, 13 rebounds in 29 minutes versus Michigan)
5’11” G Fr Sydney Wood (7 points, 2 rebounds in 18 minutes versus Nebraska)
5’8” G So Jordan Hamilton (16 points, 5 assists, 2 turnovers in 45 minutes versus Michigan)
6’2” F Jr Abi Scheid (25 points, 10 rebounds, 30 minutes versus Illinois (1st game))

Here's Burton's half court rally starter against Illinois. It's worth a look since turnaround shots have been scarce for us during the B1G season.

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https://gophersports.com/news/2019/...-northwestern-thursday-night-in-evanston.aspx

SERIES HISTORY WITH NORTHWESTERN

• Minnesota and Northwestern will meet for the 72nd time on Thursday. The Wildcats hold a slight one-game lead over the Golden Gophers all-time, 36-35. Minnesota has won two straight and four of the last five in the series, however.

• In Evanston, Northwestern holds an 18-14 series lead, though the Gophers have won two straight there. The Gophers' 14 wins in Evanston are tied for their second most on the road against one school (Wisconsin, 17).

• In her playing career, Gophers head coach Lindsay Whalen never lost to Northwestern, going 5-0 (DNP in either 2/22/04 or 3/4/04 games). She averaged 22.0 points, 5.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game, while shooting 60 percent from the floor and 78.6 percent from the free throw line.
 

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19-10 after 1 quarter. Helped that NU had 9 turnovers. Unfortunately we had 6 ourselves.
 
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Looks like the band outnumbers the crowd. Maybe a few hundred in attendance?
 




Really like the press on defense, NW is having a hell of a time trying to beat it.
 

I like the press also, but without a bench, I'm guessing that it will tire out the starters. Geez, I wish Staples could hit some shots.
 

We are losing the rebound battle. And our 11 point advantage is quickly shrinking.
 




End of half, MN 30-28. Outscored 18-8 in 2nd. We need Bello on the floor.
 
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Looks like a really sparse crowd in Evanston. Would be nice if Perez could hit some buckets.
 



48-37, we lead. But that half court 3. Hope it was late. So can we survive the 4th quarter lapse tendencies and actually win?
 

Coulda done without the halfcourt shot there but nice quarter for the Gophers.
 

There's a reason I posted the Burton highlight from Northwestern's game versus the Badgers. GUARD HER!
 



Maybe K Bell could try doing jump shots when doing free throws? She can't hit them standing still.
 






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