Another rough season, but there are some reasons for optimism.
Another year, another disappointing season for Northwestern women’s basketball. After winning just nine games in the 2023-24 season, the ‘Cats echoed that anemic total again in this campaign. Nonetheless, some players showed their potential to contribute in the years ahead. Over the next few weeks, Inside NU will explore each player’s performance in the 2024-25 season. We will start with the Wildcats’ four reserves: Mercy Ademusayo, Crystal Wang, Kat Righeimer and Claire Keswick.
Mercy Ademusayo
2024-25 season statistics: 5.1 minutes per game, 1.5 points per game, 1.0 rebounds per game, 54.5% FG (eight appearances)
Ademusayo didn’t have an ideal senior season, playing just eight games due to injury. The 6-foot-4 forward from Nigeria made her season debut on Dec. 31 in a loss against Oregon, when she scored six points and grabbed three rebounds in nine minutes of action. On Jan. 8, she recorded her only block of the season in the second quarter of a tight 68-64 loss to Indiana.
Ademusayo played a season-high 12 minutes in a blowout loss to Illinois on Jan. 23, scoring two points and securing two rebounds. She got a proper sendoff during NU’s final game, recording her first career start on Senior Day on March 2.
Crystal Wang
2024-25 season statistics: 5.0 minutes per game, 0.0 points per game, 0.3 rebounds per game, 0.3 steals per game, 0.0% FG (three appearances)
After showing flashes of promise last year, Wang’s sophomore season was derailed by injury after just three games. Originally from Beijing, the 6-foot-2 forward made a name for herself at Sierra Canyon High School in California. Wang played 11 minutes in the Wildcats’ season opener against Illinois State, recording a steal and turnover. Those three field goals she attempted on Nov. 6 would be her only shots of the season, as she played just two minutes each in losses to Lehigh and Harvard.
It was a frustrating year for Wang, who was looking to work her way up Joe McKeown’s rotation in her second year with the ‘Cats. However, she remained unflinchingly positive in warmups and on the bench during games. Wang will look to channel her energy into getting healthy and further developing her game this offseason.
Kat Righeimer
2024-25 season statistics: 3.6 minutes per game, 1.5 points per game, 0.8 rebounds per game, 0.3 assists per game, 0.3 steals per game, 80.0% FG, 66.7% 3PT, 100% FT (eight appearances)
Righeimer showed off her spark-plug capabilities during her limited minutes in her first-year campaign. After three appearances in garbage time, the 6-foot-1 combo guard notched career-highs across the board during the Wildcats’ 85-60 loss to Illinois on Jan. 23. In 13 minutes on the floor, Righeimer recorded seven points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting night.
From there, the California native didn’t see much time on the floor as conference play continued. Nonetheless, that one game was more than enough to get Northwestern fans excited for the future.
Claire Keswick
2024-25 season statistics: 1.8 minutes per game, 0.0 points per game, 0.0 rebounds per game, 0.0 assists per game, 0.0% FG (four appearances)
Keswick didn’t see much run in her first collegiate season, making just four appearances. She failed to record any offensive statistics in those games and recorded one turnover in NU’s loss to Nebraska on March 2.
At her best, the Massachusetts native is a gritty, tone-setting guard. She was a four-year varsity player at Tabor Academy in high school and earned the designation of captain in her senior year. She flaunted her 3-and-D potential as a junior, averaging more than a steal per game and hitting 44% of her shots beyond the arc. Keswick should look to Casey Harter as a blueprint for getting on the floor with her high-energy play.