Editor’s note: Each week, WNUR Sports recaps the news and results from the in-season, non-revenue teams that we cover in order to help our listeners and readers stay connected to the pulse of Northwestern athletics. For football coverage, check out this week’s game recap HERE. Teams are discussed in alphabetical order.

By Alex Campbell

 

Women’s Basketball

WIN @ Green Bay 57-55

WIN vs No. 21 Duke 84-58

The Wildcats’ Women’s Basketball team is off to a phenomenal start! After an exhibition win against Lewis University last weekend, they got their season officially underway with a 57-55 win on the road against Green Bay on Tuesday. Senior forward Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah posted a double-double, leading the ‘Cats in both points and rebounds with 17 and 14 respectively.

While a close win was a nice way to start the season, the big story this week was Northwestern’s huge home-opener win on Sunday against No. 21 Duke, in which the Wildcats blew out the Blue Devils by a score of 84-85. This was the first ever meeting in women’s basketball between the two teams, and it is certainly one that will be remembered in Evanston. Kunaiyi-Akpanah posted yet another double-double with 11 points and 17 rebounds, while sophomore Lindsey Pulliam led the way with 21 points. The victory marks the 10th consecutive season the Wildcats have won their home opener.

This Week: Thursday vs UIC, Sunday @ Florida

Women’s Soccer

LOSS vs NC State 1-0 (NCAA Tournament, 1st Round)

For the fourth straight year, the Women’s Soccer team qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Sadly for Northwestern, things came to a quick end as they lost 1-0 on Friday afternoon to NC State. The Wolfpack outshot the Wildcats 11-7 (7-3 in shots on goal) and did not give Northwestern a single corner kick opportunity. NC State had seven such chances, though, one of which they used to score the game’s only goal on in the 76th minute.

Of note for the Wildcats, senior defender Kayla Sharples concluded her streak of 87 consecutive games played, which ranks second in program history.

Volleyball

LOSS vs No. 7 Penn State 3-0

WIN vs Rutgers 3-1

The women’s volleyball team played their first two matches in the renovated Welsh-Ryan Arena this week with mixed results. On Friday night, the Wildcats kept it close in every set (averaging 20 points per set) against a spectacular Nittany Lions team, but ultimately Penn State claimed the victory. There was one major bright spot on the stat sheet, though, as sophomore Nia Robinson led all players with 12 kills.

Building off the positives from Friday, the Wildcats defeated Rutgers in four sets on Saturday night. Northwestern narrowly lost the third set, 25-21, but otherwise dominated. The Wildcats led in kills 53-35 and were led again by Robinson, who reached the 15-kill mark for the eighth time this season.

This Week: Wednesday vs Illinois, Saturday @ Penn State

***Additional Note***

While it was technically last weekend, the Men’s Soccer team’s season concluded with a loss to No. 1 Indiana in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. The Hoosiers went on to win the Big Ten title.