Abi Scheid, the team’s second-leading scorer, left in the second quarter of Northwestern’s game versus Michigan with an injury. Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah, their best player, fouled out in the fourth. But with time ticking down in overtime, Jordan Hamilton somehow maneuvered her way past three defenders to the rim. Her layup bounced from the back of the rim to the front, and hung there for an agonizing moment before falling off.
Five days later, against Purdue, Lindsey Pulliam had the ball on the baseline. Scheid’s ankle issues had kept her out for this one as well. Northwestern had climbed back from an 11 point halftime deficit, and trailed by one with less than ten seconds to go.