Purdue - 78, Northwestern - 72
THE MODERATOR: Northwestern press conference will start with opening statement from Coach McKeown.
JOE MCKEOWN: Really tough night for us. We played great, and couldn't finish the game. Credit to Purdue, made a lot of shots in the second half. Made a great run at us. We were in complete control for a long time.
So give them credit. I wish them the best. I thought we competed really well, played hard. Got in some foul trouble, and then we had some breakdowns on defense, and that was probably the difference in the game, a couple of threes.
Really proud of my team. They have dealt with adversity all year. I have three seniors that have given everything to Northwestern. So I'm proud to say I'm their coach. Go from there. Thanks.
THE MODERATOR: We'll have each student-athlete make a quick statement. Maggie, do you want to start?
MAGGIE PINA: I think this game we came out stronger in the first half than the second. We had some miscommunications, like Coach said, on defense. We got stagnant on offense. We were missing shots we normally make, and Purdue was making really tough shots.
On the year, I'm really glad to have the experience to play in the Big Ten, to play for this coaching staff.
With all my amazing teammates, I'm so thankful for the extra year. It wasn't the outcome we wanted for our game tonight or all of the games, but overall it was a great experience for me.
PAIGE MOTT: I know we're probably not the three you all wanted to talk to, but next year look out for Caileigh Walsh, Mel Daley, Mercy Ademusayo, Alana Goodchild, look out for all of them. They're going to be eating.
JASMINE MCWILLIAMS: They said it all. Our teammates are great. Next year is going to be a rebuilding year, and I'm excited to come back next year and watch them.
Q. Paige, considering the result the first time you played Purdue this year, you had to feel good this game was a lot more competitive.
PAIGE MOTT: Yeah, that first game should never have happened. I'm still not happy with the result of this game, but I'm happy that we fought. We should have won. But it's whatever.
Q. Anything that you could take from this game to build on for next season despite the loss?
JOE MCKEOWN: We came in, and we just beat Rutgers Sunday on the road. We felt like we were playing -- we had practiced at a really high level. We had a ten-point lead in the second half, in the third quarter, and you couldn't carry it over.
I think that's a teaching lesson for us, a teaching point for our younger players. That will be something we deal with in the spring.
Just disappointing because we felt like after Sunday we might make a run. I had a team with Nia Coffey, and she averaged 30 points a game in the tournament, Minnesota legend, and we played four games in a row. We talked about that as a team, that you can get hot, get on a run, and that was one of our goals this week coming in.
Just let me finish with this: I've been in women's basketball over 40 years. So again, I really wish I could coach all week with the excitement that's generated in the Big Ten this year. I give Caitlyn Clark a lot of credit. I give a lot of players a lot of credit too and coaches.
It's a great league right now. I wish everybody the best the rest of the week. In the NCAA Tournament, I think there's some teams that are poised to make deep runs. I wish we were one of them, but we'll be back. Thank you.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports