ROSEMONT, Ill. (Interstat) — In a high-octane crosstown showdown, the Northwestern Wildcats weathered a furious fourth-quarter rally from the DePaul Blue Demons to secure a 79-72 victory in a nonconference women’s basketball game Monday afternoon at a charged Allstate Arena.

The Wildcats, propelled by a dominant first-quarter performance, improved to 4-0 on the young season, while the Blue Demons fell to 1-3.

Northwestern came out scorching, opening the game on a 12-2 run and closing the first quarter with a stunning 29 points to build a 14-point lead. The offensive clinic was led by the dynamic duo of Grace Sullivan and Caroline Lau, who consistently carved up the DePaul defense. Sullivan, a 6-foot-4 junior from Antioch, Illinois, was a force throughout, finishing with a game-high 26 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Lau, a sophomore guard from Westport, Connecticut, orchestrated the offense with precision, tallying 20 points and nine assists.

Despite the early deficit, DePaul refused to capitulate. The Blue Demons chipped away in the second and third quarters, staying within striking distance behind the efforts of Kate Novik and Natiah Nelson. Novik, a native of Grodno, Belarus, led DePaul with 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists, while Nelson from Perrysburg, Ohio, added 16 points and nine rebounds.

The game’s complexion shifted dramatically in the final period. After Northwestern took a 67-48 lead into the fourth quarter, DePaul mounted a desperate and relentless 24-point quarter. The Blue Demons applied intense defensive pressure, forcing a series of Wildcats turnovers and converting them into easy baskets. A layup by Alayna West with just 17 seconds remaining capped the surge and cut the Northwestern lead to a precarious 77-72.

The comeback attempt, however, ran out of time. Northwestern, which had seen its once-comfortable lead nearly evaporate, managed to seal the game at the free-throw line in the final seconds. The Wildcats’ composure in the closing moments, despite DePaul’s frantic push, proved decisive.

A key factor in Northwestern’s ability to build and maintain its lead for most of the game was its command on the glass. Tayla Thomas, a 6-3 sophomore from East Orange, New Jersey, was instrumental in that effort, hauling in a monumental 18 rebounds to go with her 11 points, providing crucial second-chance opportunities and limiting DePaul’s possessions.

The game drew an impressive crowd of 9,526 to Allstate Arena, creating a playoff-like atmosphere for the early-season matchup. The win extends Northwestern’s strong start as they look to build momentum ahead of their upcoming schedule, which includes a home game against Cleveland State on Friday. DePaul, seeking to right the ship after a tough opening stretch, will also return to action Friday to host Grambling.