Northwestern looked like a top-25 team for three quarters against Gonzaga, but went colder than Lake Michigan in January at precisely the wrong time.
Northwestern (10-2) faced a tough road test against a Gonzaga (8-2) team that had already knocked off two Pac 12 opponents this year. A win would have been a key résumé-builder for the Wildcats, but despite leading for three-and-a-half quarters and stretching the lead to as many as nine points, Northwestern’s offense fell apart down the stretch after Ashley Deary was forced out of the game with four fouls. Taking full advantage of the opportunity, Gonzaga muscled its way to a 67-56 victory.