The Northwestern Wildcats women's basketball season, finishing 8-21 (2-16 Big Ten), was one their fans will want to put behind them. The story of their struggles, however, is best told not just by the record, but by the numbers that defined their year on the court.

Defense was the primary culprit. According to BartTorvik.com, Northwestern allowed an effective field goal percentage (eFG%) of 50.2, which ranked a dismal 343rd nationally. For context, eFG% adjusts for the extra value of a three-pointer, and a mark above 50 indicates a defense that consistently gives up high-quality shots. Opponents feasted, shooting 34.2% from three (336th nationally) and 49.7% from inside the arc (324th). The result? The Wildcats surrendered 80 or more points in a staggering 12 games. You simply cannot compete in the rugged Big Ten with those defensive numbers.

Compounding the defensive issues was a struggle on the glass. Northwestern's defensive rebounding rate was just 35.2%, meaning they secured only about one-third of available defensive boards. For comparison, elite national programs often clear 75-80% of defensive rebounds. This shortcoming was puzzling given the presence of 6'3" posts Grace Sullivan and Tayla Thomas. The problem often stemmed from the guard rotation, where the three most-used players were all under six feet, putting them at a significant disadvantage when battling for long rebounds.

Ultimately, these numbers paint a clear picture of a team that couldn't get stops and couldn't finish possessions. As new head coach Carla Berube takes the reins, establishing a tougher defensive identity and a more tenacious rebounding effort will be the non-negotiable first steps toward turning the page in Evanston.