IU Upends No. 20 Northwestern on the Road

Sunday, January 24

Evanston, Ill.

5 pm

Indiana University

12-8, 4-4B1G

at Northwestern

13-7, 2-6B1G

INDIANA

Northwestern

1/24/2016 7:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. – Trailing by seven heading into the fourth quarter, Indiana outscored No. 20 Northwestern 33-19 in the final period to down the Wildcats in Welsh-Ryan Arena on Sunday, 91-84. Five Hoosiers scored in double figures as Tyra Buss and Amanda Cahill both finished with double-doubles to lead Indiana.

The win gave Indiana its third victory over a ranked opponent this season, the most by a Hoosier team in a single year since 2001-02. It was also IU's first road win over a ranked foe since Dec. 6, 2009 at Michigan State.

The game saw nine ties and 18 lead changes in a seesaw matchup.

An Alexis Gassion layup put Indiana in front 9-5 before Northwestern scored seven straight points and used an 11-3 run overall to lead 16-12 at the 2:55 mark of the first quarter. But the Hoosiers closed the quarter strong as Jess Walter hit a field goal while being fouled and completed the three-point play to give IU a 21-20 edge after one.

The second quarter saw seven lead changes and one tie in that period alone. A Nia Coffey layup put Northwestern in front 35-34 late in the quarter. Jenn Anderson responded on IU's next possession with a layup of her own before Buss hit a bucket and Gassion nailed a 3-point field goal for a 7-1 Hoosier run in the final 3:12 of half to make it a 41-36 Indiana lead at the break.

Northwestern (13-7, 2-6) looked in command after the half as it outscored Indiana by 12 in the third period to take a 65-58 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Indiana (12-8, 4-4) had other things in mind as IU kept chipping away in the final period. A three-point play by Cahill and a 3-pointer from Jess Walter pulled Indiana within one, 69-68, early in the quarter. After an NU bucket, Buss scored on back-to-back possessions and Gassion followed with a field goal to make it a 74-71 Hoosier lead with 5:00 to play to cap a 12-2 IU run.

The Hoosiers would lead the rest of the way, extending the advantage to as much as seven on three occasions, including the final tally.

For the first time this season, five Indiana players scored in double figures led by 21 points from Buss. Buss also grabbed a season-high 10 boards for her second career double-double.

Cahill finished with 20 points and tied her season high of 11 rebounds. She added six assists while shooting 7-of-14 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free throw line.

Other double-figure scorers for the Hoosiers included Walter with 15 points, Karlee McBride with 14 and Gassion with 12 points.

Walter's scoring total was a season high for the sophomore as she nailed 4-of-6 3-point field goals. Gassion added a career-high nine assists.

Indiana shot 50.7 percent from the field as a team and nailed 14-of-17 free throws. IU also dished for 24 assists on 34 made field goals.

The Hoosiers will return home to Assembly Hall to take on Rutgers on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. ET.