Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Northwestern
Turnovers Costly as IU Falls to Northwestern
2/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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Site: Assembly Hall (Bloomington, Ind.) Score: Northwestern 75, Indiana 69 Next IU Game: Sunday, Feb. 8 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 2 p.m. ET Related Links: Statistics / PDF / Game Notes /  Photos / Highlights Coach Moren Press Conference |
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana came up short to Northwestern on Thursday night in Assembly Hall, 75-69. Tyra Buss led the Hoosiers with 17 points.
In a game that saw 10 ties and 11 lead changes, IU’s 20 turnovers on the night proved to be too much to overcome down the stretch.
The Hoosiers (13-9, 3-8) jumped out to a 10-2 lead to start in the game’s first 3:05 behind five quick points from Amanda Cahill, a 3-pointer from Tyra Buss and a jumper from Alexis Gassion.
NU (16-6, 6-5) would chip away at that lead the remainder of the half, eventually taking its first lead of the game at 25-24 at the 6:29 mark after nine unanswered points. The Wildcats took a 32-28 lead into the halftime break.
Early in the second half, Karlee McBride threw up a desperation 3-pointer from just inside the half court circle as the shot clock expired and it fell through to cut the NU lead to one. On IU’s next possession, McBride drove in from the left wing, scooped and scored while being fouled then nailed the free throw to complete a 6-0 run on her own and give Indiana a 36-34 edge with 17:50 to play.
Northwestern clawed right back with eight-straight points to boost its lead to 42-36 before a Buss layup halted the run. That ignited a 9-0 Hoosier run as Brooks added a 3-pointer and Buss completed an old-fashioned three-point play to put Indiana back in front, 46-42.
The Wildcats tied it right back as the team traded points and later 3-point field goals as the score read 57-57 with 7:04 remaining. A Brooks jumper then put Indiana in front by two, but free throws from NU’s Nia Coffey and a Maggie Lyon layup gave Northwestern a two-point lead with 5:08 to go.
NU extended their run to open up a 67-60 advantage with 3:14 on the clock. Indiana cut the deficit to four twice in the final three minutes, but would get no closer.
Lyon led Northwestern with 16 points as Coffey finished with a double-double, scoring 14 points to go along with 12 rebounds.
McBride finished the game with 15 points for the Hoosiers. Alexis Gassion tallied 11 points with six rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block as Amanda Cahill led Indiana with 12 boards to go along with seven points.
IU shot 44.6 percent from the field and 87.5 percent (14-of-16) from the free throw line. But Indiana’s 20 miscues led to 14 Northwestern points off turnovers. The Wildcats also scored 42 points in the paint.
Indiana will hit the road on Sunday, Feb. 8 to take on Ohio State in Columbus at 2 p.m. ET inside Value City Arena.
Media Contact: Ryan Sheets, rmsheets@indiana.edu
