{"id":102342,"date":"2023-03-11T09:50:22","date_gmt":"2023-03-11T15:50:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/?p=102342"},"modified":"2023-03-11T09:50:22","modified_gmt":"2023-03-11T15:50:22","slug":"freshman-caroline-lau-showcases-scoring-passing-ability-in-first-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/freshman-caroline-lau-showcases-scoring-passing-ability-in-first-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Freshman Caroline Lau showcases scoring, passing ability in first season"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Tristan Tucker
\n<\/strong>Medill Reports<\/em><\/p>\n

First-year guard Caroline Lau burst onto the scene for Northwestern University\u2019s women\u2019s basketball team, emphasized by her career outing against Chicago State on Jan. 25, and never looked back.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lau set career highs in points, field goals, free throws, rebounds, assists and blocks in the 87-64 win. Then, in an improbable <\/span>comeback win against Wisconsin on Jan. 29<\/span><\/a>, Lau hit the biggest shot of her career to give Northwestern a fourth-quarter lead and its first winning streak since mid-December.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt felt good,\u201d Lau said of her second career start. \u201cMostly just glad we got the win.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A former four-star recruit from Westport, Connecticut, Lau rounded into form as the Wildcats continued through Big Ten play and became a staple of the rotation. Though she averaged a modest 5.9 points per game, ranking fifth on the team, Lau set a career high in every statistic after the new year.<\/span><\/p>\n

After the new year, Lau averaged 7.7 points, 2.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 25 minutes played per game while. Before Jan. 1, Lau averaged 2.8 points and shot 31.3% from deep in 14.6 minutes. Slowly but surely, Lau is earning the trust of head coach Joe McKeown.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHer confidence level,\u201d McKeown said in terms of what stands out about Lau\u2019s recent play. \u201cShe\u2019s a gym rat. If I told you this, you\u2019d say show me the film \u2014 she hit 12 half-court shots \u2026 just messing around, she hit 12. And I\u2019m like, maybe we should run a play just for that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Lau\u2019s intensity popped off the page immediately in the game against Chicago State, scoring or assisting on Northwestern\u2019s first six points.<\/span><\/p>\n

While Northwestern went on to blow Chicago State out, the Cougars, a team that had a 2% chance to win the game according to ESPN, actually came within two points of the Wildcats in the third quarter. Lau sparked Northwestern to a huge second half, scoring 10 points after Chicago State began to close in and helping ensure a blowout.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe just has that competitiveness that I don\u2019t know that you can teach,\u201d McKeown said. \u201cShe brought it with her. I think she\u2019s done a great job of trying to be a great teammate.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

First and foremost, Lau displayed an elite court vision, getting the ball inside for some easy scores. When bringing the ball up the court, Lau scans the field for entry passes to the paint, which leads to easy baskets such as this one.<\/span><\/p>\n