From University of Chicago Athletics
The University of Chicago women's basketball team utilized a swarming defense to roll past University of Northwestern – St. Paul 63-48 in the first round of the NCAA Division III Championship on Friday night.
The No. 10-ranked Maroons improved to 22-4 and will face Whitman College in Saturday night's NCAA Second Round. The Eagles conclude their season at 19-9.
For the first time since 2012, UChicago hosted an NCAA game in the Ratner Athletics Center, and the home side made sure it was a memorable start. Grace Hynes nailed a three-pointer on the team's first possession, and the Maroons were off to the races from there. The offense was clicking from deep and rushed out to a 17-0 lead. The hosts sped up the Eagles beyond their comfort zone, which resulted in eight turnovers and an eight-minute scoring drought to start the game.
Hynes also hit an impressive milestone in the first quarter. With her eighth point of the game, the senior guard became the program's 17th member of the 1,000-career points club. She accomplished the feat in her 77th career game.
Hynes doubled up Northwestern by herself in the opening frame – she scored 10 points as UChicago took a 24-5 lead heading into the second quarter.
While UChicago struggled to hit shots for the rest of the game, Northwestern could not find much rhythm against an active defense that contested everything inside the arc. The home side held a double-digit lead for the rest of the night.
The Maroons flexed their muscle in the paint with a 52-36 rebounding advantage. The offensive boards were lopsided 18-3 in UChicago's favor, which resulted in a 16-2 margin in second-chance points. Northwestern also turned the ball over 19 times compared to 11 by UChicago.
Hynes finished with 18 points and eight rebounds. Mallory Brodnik posted a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Bella Alfaro submitted nine points and four assists off the bench. Ellie Gross chipped in nine points and eight rebounds.
View the UChicago post-game press conference below: