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2024-25 women’s basketball player previews: Caroline Lau

October 31, 2024 by Inside NU

NCAA Womens Basketball: Northwestern at Notre Dame
Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

The point guard is ready to take charge of the ‘Cats offense.

Who she is

Junior; 5-foot-9 guard from Westport, Connecticut

2023-24 Stats

30 games, 30 starts, averaged 28.9 minutes per game. 7.8 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game, 5.6 assists per game, 1.1 steals per game. 40.6% FG, 36.1% 3P, 69.2% FT

2023-24 Review

As the starting point guard for Northwestern, Lau shone bright in her sophomore year. She relied on her sharp shooting, passing and leadership as the facilitator on the court to carry her team offensively. She also prioritized quality over quantity with her shot selection, taking in total 26 fewer shots throughout the season, an average of about one less shot per game. She was strong in the passing game, with her 37.1% assist percentage ranking in the 99th percentile. Overall, she settled in more throughout the year and gained comfort in the structure and boundaries of her role.

In the opening game, she had her first-ever double-double and came one assist shy of the program record with 16 points and 15 assists against UIC. She achieved another double-double three days later against Omaha. The following month against Bradley, she scored 17 points and tied her career highs in field goals, three-pointers, steals and blocks. Her best game of the season came against Wisconsin, where she set a career-high in points with 24 on perfect 9-for-9 shooting, including cashing four threes. She flexed her defensive prowess with a career-high four steals against Purdue and recorded 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting, including a perfect 4-for-4 from deep, in the regular season finale against Rutgers.

Strengths

Lau is the glue of Northwestern’s offense — she keeps it together, coherent and efficient. Her strengths in the passing game help open up opportunities for other teammates and create open space for shooters. She uses her speed to catch defenses off-guard and her strong court vision to dish out assists and serve as an offensive catalyst.

Lau’s elite shotmaking is simply another tool in her arsenal. Her bread and butter are shots from behind the arc, as she converted 36.1% from deep last season and was lethal behind the arc from the corner and top of the key. She ranked in the 89th percentile among Division I players from downtown and was far and away the ‘Cats most consistent three-point shooter. Lau also flexes her versatility as a floor general through her doubles-doubles, as she always does the little things on the court that makes her presence known. While not known on the defensive end, she had steals on occasion and was great in transition, taking advantage of defense-to-offense moments that point guards often facilitate.

Weaknesses

Lau’s biggest weakness continues to be her inability to take care of the ball. Despite her quality passing and effective shooting, her 115 turnovers last season were the most by a Wildcat since 2017-2018. These turnovers hindered Lau’s strength of preserving continuity and being that offensive glue, as oftentimes she made risky passes and was careless with the ball in her hands.

Lau also shot a mere 69.1% from the free-throw line. Those points are necessary and can be the difference maker in close games. Given her shooting skills and the number of fouls that she draws, Lau should be a much better shooter from the line and will need to improve in that field to cash in especially in transition offense.

Expectations

Lau found her role with the ‘Cats last season and will be called upon again to be the starting point guard and leader of the offense. Her shots from deep will continue to be the focal point of her scoring. She’ll likely attempt even more shots from behind the arc and shoot even more consistently, averaging double figures this upcoming season. Expect her to record even more double-doubles by being an impressive scorer and passer. She will have to be a better ball handler and avoid turnovers by improving her decision-making.

It would also be huge for NU’s system, if she improves on crashing the glass. Naturally point guards aren’t the biggest rebounders but when they are, it often leads to lethal transition offense since the facilitator instantly starts the possession with the ball. Also with her shooting prowess, expect Lau’s free throw shooting to see an uptick this season. With these improvements, Lau will take another leap as a junior and have an even bigger impact, one that could make-or-break Northwestern’s aspirations this season.

Filed Under: Northwestern

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