Berube lays defensive blueprint in 71-39 exhibition win over Lewis
The Wildcats held Lewis to 24.5% shooting and forced 18 turnovers, but 14 giveaways left Berube with work to do.
Carla Berube, Northwestern's new head coach, showcased a strong defensive strategy in her team's 71-39 exhibition win over the Lewis Flyers at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Wildcats began the game with a 6-3 lead, courtesy of Mallory Ramage's back-to-back three-pointers. Northwestern then shut out Lewis for 13 minutes and 32 seconds, scoring 17 unanswered points.
The Wildcats broke Lewis' scoring and field goal droughts in the second half, but by then, the deficit was too great. The victory marked the first of Berube's tenure at Northwestern. Her defensive focus aligned with her philosophies developed at Princeton, where her Tigers led Division I teams in scoring defense. Lewis struggled from the field, converting only 24.5% of their attempts.
Northwestern forced 18 turnovers and capitalized on them, outscoring Lewis 15-0 in fast break opportunities. Sophomore guard Mo Harter led the team with 24 points and three blocks, demonstrating Northwestern's emphasis on versatile players. Junior Lily Carmody contributed significantly with 15 points, eight rebounds, and three steals, despite the Lewis team's aggressive defense.
However, Berube emphasized there was room for improvement, particularly in turnover reduction. The Wildcats look forward to their regular season opener against Milwaukee on November 3rd.
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