Story by
Northwestern Women's Basketball Obliterates Lewis in Exhibition
- Story by
- Northwestern Women's Basketball Obliterates Lewis in Exhibition
Carla Berube's new-look Northwestern Wildcats women's basketball team destroyed the Lewis University Flyers, 71-39, in a Welsh-Ryan Arena smackdown on Friday.
Senior guard Casey Harter was the star of the show all night. After a pair of Mallory Ramage triples pushed Lewis up by a possession, 6-3, Northwestern went on a 17-0 surge to close out the first quarter's final 8:45, building out a 20-6 advantage.
Advertisement
Contributions from sophomore forward Jasmyn Cooper-Derba and freshman guard Brooke Golden helped the Wildcats keep the Flyers at bay, with a 35-20 advantage heading into the half.
The Wildcats rode a 16-5 third quarter to build out a 51-25 lead heading into the final frame. Lewis never got within 20 points again.
The Numbers
Northwestern's demonstrative defense yielded major on-court results. The Wildcats scored 23 points off 18 Lewis turnovers.
Five Wildcats scored in double digits.
Harter was the standout, with a game-best 24 points on 9-of-18 field goal shooting (including 4-of-8 shooting from long range) and 2-of-2 free throw shooting, plus three rejections.
Advertisement
Sophomore transfer guard Camdyn Nelson finished with a well-rounded night, scoring 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor and 2-of-2 shooting from the foul line, while pulling down eight boards and dishing out eight dimes.
Junior transfer guard Lily Carmody notched 15 points on a middling 3-of-9 field goal shooting (1-of-1 from deep) and 8-of-10 free throw shooting. The 5-foot-11 Aussie also grabbed eight rebounds, swiped three steals, and blocked two shots.
Princeton head coach Carla Berube looks on during a NCAA non-conference women's basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Life After Joe McKeown
Following 18 seasons with former head coach Joe McKeown, Northwestern knew it was time for a change last summer. The team hasn't sported a record above .500 since its 17-12 run in 2021-22.
Advertisement
Berube enjoyed a decorated seven-year stint leading the Princeton Tigers prior to her Northwestern tenure. She brought the club to five Ivy League championships and five NCAA tournament berths. Berube has brought aboard seven new players (four transfers and three freshmen) this year.
Transfers Carmody and Lexi Blue will serve as team captains, alongside Harter. Carmody will hopefully help replace the prolific passing and dynamic scoring of graduated point guard Caroline Lau.
But can the Wildcats effectively replace the offense generated by top scorer Grace Sullivan, a 6-foot-4 forward who numbered among the most prolific players in franchise history? Sullivan, meanwhile, has linked up with Belgian pro club Kangoeroes Mechelin.
Northwestern hopes to earn its third-ever Big Ten Championship this season — which would mark their first in seven years.
The Wildcats' 2026-27 regular season will officially tip off on Tuesday, in a home clash against the University of Milwaukee Panthers.
