Northwestern Women’s Basketball Faces Michigan Squad in Thursday Big Ten Clash
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Big Ten women’s basketball returns to the spotlight at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Thursday night. It is because Northwestern looks to regroup and respond following another challenging stretch. The Wildcats sit at 8–15 on the season and are searching for momentum. Meanwhile, No. 8 Michigan arrives in Evanston at 20–4 and is riding the confidence of four straight road victories. It is a classic Big Ten test that places urgency on one side and consistency on the other.
Northwestern Women’s Basketball Focusing on Big Ten Test
The Wildcats have shown flashes of what they can be, particularly in second halves. And Thursday’s matchup offers a chance to turn those flashes into a complete performance against one of the league’s top teams.
Homestand Finale 😼
— Northwestern Women’s Basketball (@nuwbball) February 7, 2026
🆚 #8 Michigan
🗓️ Thursday, February 12
🎟️ https://t.co/Nix3953CZ6 pic.twitter.com/9cXzAKSVMh
Michigan’s visit brings immediate intrigue. The Wolverines have quietly become one of the most dangerous road teams in the conference, stacking four consecutive away wins and showing poise in hostile environments. Northwestern, meanwhile, is eager to defend its home floor and snap a recent skid with a statement performance.
Michigan has been steady and composed throughout the season. Meanwhile, Northwestern continues to build, searching for the right balance to sustain intensity for all 40 minutes.
Both teams enter Thursday coming off losses, though the circumstances were very different. Northwestern is fresh off an 83–65 setback against USC, a game defined by an early hole that proved too deep to climb out of. Michigan, on the other hand, saw its momentum slowed in a tight 69–66 loss to UCLA.
In that loss, Michigan leaned on Olivia Olson, who delivered 20 points and seven rebounds. Despite the final score against USC, Northwestern’s top offensive options delivered exactly what the team needed. Senior forward Grace Sullivan and junior guard Casey Harter combined for 44 points, continuing to establish themselves as the Wildcats’ go-to scoring duo.
Sullivan was dominant inside, finishing with a team-high 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting. She added five rebounds and two steals, consistently attacking the paint and creating high-percentage looks. Harter complemented that interior presence with a smooth shooting performance of her own, scoring 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting and knocking down two three-pointers.
Caroline Lau Keeps the Offense Flowing
At the heart of Northwestern’s offense is senior guard Caroline Lau, the nation’s assist leader. Against USC, Lau filled the stat sheet with six points, four rebounds, and nine assists. It was the 12th time this season she has recorded at least nine assists.
One of the most encouraging signs for Northwestern has been its response after halftime. Against USC, the Wildcats showed resilience and defensive grit, holding the Trojans to just 14 points in the third quarter. Over the final 20 minutes, Northwestern outscored USC 37–30, limited them to 33.3 percent shooting, and held them to just 3-of-19 from beyond the arc.
Those numbers tell a clear story. When Northwestern locks in defensively, it can compete with anyone in the conference.
As Michigan brings its road-tested confidence to Evanston, Northwestern’s challenge will be matching its second-half intensity from the opening tip.
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Shayni Maitra is a sports girl through and through writing about everything from locker room drama to game-day legends in the NFL and NBA. She’s covered the action for outlets like College Sports Network, Sportskeeda, EssentiallySports, NB Media, and PinkVilla, blending sharp takes with a deep love for storytelling. Whether it’s college football rivalries, Olympic gold-chasers, or the off-field chaos that keeps Twitter alive, Shayni brings the heat with heart—and just the right amount of humor.