NCAAW Preview: No. 21 Wildcats look to continue hot streak against No. 16 Hoosiers
The No. 21 Northwestern Wildcats have won their last four games, while the No. 16 Indiana Hoosiers are getting back to action after having their last two games postponed.
By JimSavell@JimSavell Jan 24, 2021, 9:00am EST
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Veronica Burton (with ball) leads the Northwestern Wildcats as they look for a fifth-straight win.
Photo by Lawrence Iles/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The No. 21 Northwestern Wildcats host the No. 16 Indiana Hoosiers at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday on ESPN2. The Wildcats have won their last four and will look to keep their momentum going. The Hoosiers have not played since January 14 after postponements due to COVID-19 problems within their opponents' programs. Both teams have been unable to notch a victory against a Top 25 opponent at this point in the season.
As a team, the Wildcats do not shoot the deep ball well (just 28 percent). However, leading scorer Veronica Burton is shooting 43 percent and has made a 3-pointer in each of the Wildcats' 10 games. In addition to Burton (17.4 points per game), Lindsey Pulliam (15.3) and Sydney Wood (14.2) are double-figure scorers for Northwestern.
.@SydWood_ out here with the spin cycle! Too clean ✨#LockedN x #GoCats pic.twitter.com/Qw16XFX5tr
— Northwestern Women's Basketball (@nuwbball) January 22, 2021
Sophomore forward Mackenzie Holmes has proved to be even better after making the 2019-20 Big Ten All-Freshman Team for Indiana. Holmes has jumped from 10.8 points per game as a freshman to a scoring average of 17.5, only failing to reach double figures once this season. At 6-foot-3, Holmes will be a challenge to guard due to Northwestern's lack of size.
Like it's automatic @kenzieholmes_ pic.twitter.com/I7fzvuKHR7
— Indiana Women's Basketball (@IndianaWBB) January 14, 2021
Indiana junior guard Grace Berger has registered two triple-doubles this season and is scoring 13.3 points per contest. Senior Ali Patberg is the Hoosiers' best 3-point shooter at 37 percent and is averaging 12.6 points this season.
Here's what to expect from the matchup and how to watch:
No. 16 Indiana Hoosiers (8-3, 6-1 Big Ten) vs. No. 21 Northwestern Wildcats (8-2, 6-2 Big Ten)
When: Sunday, Jan. 24 at 12 p.m. ET
Where: Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, IL
How to watch/listen: ESPN2/Radio: WNUR or WHCC
What to watch: The Hoosiers have the advantage in the paint but could come out slow as they get back into the flow of game action after a 10-day layoff. The Wildcats run a four-guard system that could force the Hoosiers to run small, something that they may not be comfortable with.