Northwestern women's basketball survived a defensive slugfest and a late comeback attempt to edge Abilene Christian in its first game of the Elevance Health Fort Myers Tip-Off on Friday morning.

Northwestern (6-0) remained undefeated with a hard-fought 62-59 victory over Abilene Christian (4-2) at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Fla. The Wildcats started the season 6-0 for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign, when they opened 10-0.

Grace Sullivan led the scoreboard with 22 points while collecting nine rebounds, continuing her dominant interior presence. Tate Lash and Casey Harter each added 12 points, with Lash delivering clutch free throws in the final minute to seal the victory. Tayla Thomas powered Northwestern on the glass with a game-high 12 rebounds while chipping in eight points. Caroline Lau also posted nine assists despite a scoring drought.

Northwestern jumped out to an early seven-point lead in the first quarter behind six points each from Sullivan and Lash. Xamiya Walton provided a spark off the bench with six points as the Wildcats built momentum. But Abilene Christian's Meredith Mayes led a 6-0 run to evaporate the gap, and Northwestern's early foul trouble allowed the Wildcats to close within striking distance. Lau picked up two personal fouls and sat out, while the Wildcats committed zero free throws compared to Abilene Christian's six attempts. Northwestern took a 21-18 lead into the second quarter.

The second period turned into a defensive battle. ACU's Riley Grohman drilled a three-pointer to tie the score, but Harter responded with a layup. Both teams endured a two-minute scoring drought before Lash broke the silence with a driving layup at the 5:47 mark. After a media timeout, Abilene Christian returned with a three-pointer to make it a one-point game. Sullivan stepped up with a transitional bucket, then came up clutch with a buzzer-beating jumper on a second chance to give Northwestern a 29-24 halftime cushion.

Northwestern's lead swelled to eight points early in the third quarter when Lash caught fire with five combined points. But Abilene Christian stormed back with a 7-0 run to cut it to one at the midway point. Thomas responded with a layup to extend the advantage, and Harter added two free throws after Grohman's tying three-pointer. Sullivan followed with a jumper in the paint, but Breanna Davis drained a triple that gave ACU a 46-45 lead heading into the fourth.

Mayes opened the final period with two free throws to push Abilene Christian's lead to three. But Harter and Sullivan combined for four points after capitalizing on consecutive ACU turnovers, allowing Northwestern to retake the advantage. The Wildcats built momentum when Harter drained a crucial three-pointer to push the lead to six. Lau, who had struggled offensively, rejuvenated her scoring with a layup off another ACU turnover. Northwestern led 56-50 with three minutes remaining.

Abilene Christian refused to fold, chipping away at the free-throw line while Sullivan remained dominant on the glass. She grabbed an offensive rebound and converted a jumper to maintain Northwestern's advantage. ACU forced a two-point game when Payton Hull knocked down a jumper in the final minute. Sullivan missed a contested jumper on the ensuing possession, giving Abilene Christian life.

Walton fouled Hull with 21 seconds remaining, but Hull converted just one of two free throws. After a Northwestern timeout, Lash drew a foul and calmly secured both free throws into her pocket. Hull answered with a driving layup, but Lash returned to the line and remained unfazed, converting both attempts to seal Northwestern's sixth consecutive victory.

Northwestern will look to remain undefeated when it faces Missouri on Saturday, Nov. 29, to wrap up the Elevance Health Fort Myers Tip-Off.

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