While the season is only one game old, there’s one thing Northwestern women’s basketball has made clear: this year’s team is different.
It’s been a common theme expressed in press conferences with players
and coaches. “We didn’t do this last year, we’re doing it this year” — quotes along those lines have been pertinent.
After NU’s thrilling 67-64 win against IU Indy, head coach Joe McKeown echoed that sentiment.
“We did a really great job closing the game out,” McKeown said. “Some of these games last year we might have let that slip. This year, we feel like we’re going to find ways to win these games.”
Grace Sullivan, who finished the game with 18 points and 18 rebounds, also described resilience as a focal point of this year’s squad.
“That was one of the goals, compared to last year, finishing off these tough games,” Sullivan said. “I think this year, we have a group that wants to push thought those moments and can deal with the adversity.”
This game had a dichotomous feel to it. While it seemed that Northwestern was mostly in control, as it held a nine-point lead at two separate times in the second half, it also felt like a game the old Wildcats would have fumbled away. Both teams went back and forth with each other in the final frame, with each momentum shift quickly halted by a counter punch. It was a ferocious battle plagued by self inflicted wounds. Northwestern had 19 turnovers and were 8-for-15 from the free throw line, while IU Indy had 14 turnovers and shot 18-for-27 from the line. These mistakes were paramount down the stretch, and it felt as though whichever team could limit their miscues and hit the clutch shot when it mattered would come out on top.
Enter: Xamiya Walton. The sophomore had already played her career-high in minutes, taking on in an elevated role after limited playtime in her first season. But Walton knew which asset was favoring her this game — her three-point shot. She described herself as a “hypersensitive” three-point shooter in high school, and said she hoped it would translate into college level play. Walton made sure of that Wednesday night.
The ‘Cats lost their lead twice in the fourth quarter. They were down 58-57 with 4:10 to play, and down 63-62 with 19 seconds remaining. In both instances, Walton was confident and composed as she found herself open from long range, caught the ball and calmly launched a parabola shot that felt into the bucket. The former three served as a sign that her shot was on point. The latter three was where she ensured that advantage didn’t go to waste.
“I definitely think this showed all the work I put in the offseason and coming up through this season,” Walton said on her three pointers. “The fact that my teammates have enough trust in me, and Coach Joe has enough trust in me to play a role means a lot.”
Walton’s treys were pivotal, but this year’s group didn’t get complacent. Recognizing there was still time for IU Indy to respond, Caroline Lau pressured Destini Craig for a steal but was whistled for a reach-in foul, sending Craig to the free-throw line.
Craig nailed the first free throw but couldn’t convert the second. Lau grabbed the rebound, securing NU’s possession and the lead with seven seconds to play.
“This game came down to a couple plays, and I think the big one was getting the rebound off the missed free throw,” McKeown said. “Those type of things, you got to make those plays when they miss a free throw.”
Lau’s rebound ended IU Indy’s chances, and Tate Lash punctuated the win with two free throws. While Walton will go down as the hero, this game featured several Wildcats with noteworthy performances. Sullivan and Tayla Thomas each posted double-doubles, while Walton added 17 points and Harter added 13.
McKeown praised Sullivan in particular for her 18-rebound performance, touting her awareness on the glass this year and having mirrored the overall team’s efforts to be physical. Sullivan’s one blemish in the game was an offensive foul that occurred with 23 seconds left, but McKeown thinks this is a product of Sullivan’s star play, as teams feel inclined to bring a swarm of defenders to pressure her at all times.
While Sullivan recognized her success to start the season, she credited this win to the team’s dynamic roster containing multiple players that can make an impact.
“The depth that we have this season coming off the bench is great,” Sullivan said. “It’s amazing for teams to have, I think it shows versatility when we get a different lineup in every time, shooters on the outside, that is really going to help us.”
It was by no means a flawless performance from NU. Despite the win, McKeown acknowledges the team needs to do better at closing out games and limiting turnovers. Much of what made this game close was the ‘Cats stepping on their own claws through careless passes, ill-advised offensive fouls and miscommunication on defense or in transition.
But these are growing pains McKeown expects from this team, one that’s still forming an identity and leaning into its chemistry and team-first mentality.
“These girls really care about each other, our practices are lively and upbeat and (the players) are unselfish,” McKeown said. “All great teams in the past … they didn’t want the credit, they wanted it shared, and I see that with this team as well.”
