Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Jan. 31, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. -
NORTHWESTERN (4-16, 0-9)
vs. Penn State (13-8, 5-3)
Date/Time: Thursday, Jan. 31/7 p.m. CST
Site: Welsh-Ryan Arena (Evanston, Ill.)
Capacity: 8,117
For the second time in seven days, Northwestern takes to the hardwood against the Lady Lions of Penn State. The Lions are coming off a 63-49 drubbing of then-No. 8 Wisconsin and have won four of their last five, including an 84-49 win over NU. NU's key to success will be to limit the nation's leading scorer (25.1 ppg), Kelly Mazzante. Mazzante scored 24 points-playing just 25 minutes-in the first meeting. She averages 26.9 points per conference game. Kwasinski led the NU attack with 18 points and six rebounds last Thursday.
Another key aspect of the game will be NU's ability to slow down the Lions' transition offense. PSU was able to score 49 points off turnovers and fast breaks. NU scored 12 points in the same categories.
NU cannot rely on just the starters for offensive production, a lesson it learned last week against the Lions. PSU's bench outscored the NU bench, 49-9.
Last Time Out vs. Penn State-Jan. 24, 2002
One week ago, Sarah Kwasinski led the Northwestern women's basketball team in scoring, hitting 8-of-12 shots for 18 points. But it was not enough, as NU fell to Penn State, 84-49, at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center.
Kwasinski continued to prove herself as one of the conference's premier shot blockers, swatting two attempts and moving up one spot to fourth on NU's single-season block list. Her 38 blocks this season broke former NU great Anucha Brown's 1984-85 effort of 37. Brown also owns the No. 2 and No. 3 spots on the record list with 55 blocks during the 1983-84 season and 48 in 1982-83.
In the game, Kwasinski won the opening tip to junior Leslie Dolland, who hit a streaking Melissa Culver for an easy layup. The 'Cats followed up with two more easy buckets, taking a 6-2 advantage which led to a Lion timeout. Following the stop in play, the Lions regrouped and went on a 13-2 run for a 15-8 lead. The two teams traded baskets before NU went on a 10-3 run of their own and tied the score at 22.
NU would get no closer as the Lady Lions closed out the half on a decisive 20-6 run. Penn State led 42-28 at halftime.
Following the break, Penn State picked up right where it left off, opening the second stanza with a 21-9 run in the first nine-plus minutes.
Freshmen vs. Freshmen
Each team had four freshmen (eligibilty) suit up and play last Thursday with both coaches starting three newcomers. NU won the freshmen scoring battle 25-23 with Sarah Kwasinski leading all freshmen with 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting.
Kleptomania
Natalie Will followed her impulses and suffered from a strong case of kletomania, stealing the ball six times vs. Michigan State on Sunday. The six steals is a career high for Will and moved her ahead of Melissa Culver for the team lead (33). Will led the team in steals a year ago with 44.
"Assist"ing Others
Freshman Melissa Culver recorded her 100th assist against Michigan State on Sunday. The freshman from Colorado is averaging 5.0 dimes per game and is on her way to having the highest assist total since Amber DeWall recorded 205 in 1998.
At Home vs. the Lady Lions
Northwestern is 2-6 all-time vs. PSU in Welsh-Ryan Arena, with all games coming after the Nittany Lions joined the Big Ten in 1990. The 'Cats have been outscored by an average of 11.1 points per game.
Movin on Up
Sarah Kwasinski blocked one shot against Michigan State on Sunday, giving her 38 for the year. The block moved her up one spot to fourth, breaking Anucha Brown's 1984-85 record of 37. Brown also holds the No. 2 and No. 3 spots on the list with 55 in 1983-84 and 48 in 1982-83. Last year's leading shot blocker was Michelle Zylstra with 19.
Sultan of Swat
Freshman Sarah Kwasinski set the NU single-game record for blocked shots vs. Illinois (1/20/02). The Chicago native blocked seven shots, eclipsing Anucha Brown's (1984) record of six.
WILDCATS vs. NITTANY LIONS
Series Record: PSU leads 17-4
Last NU win: 1/31/97 (68-65)
Last Penn State win: 1/24/02 (84-49)
Current Win Streak: Penn State-9 wins
In Evanston: 2-6
at Penn State: 1-9
Neutral Site: 1-2
Overtime Games: n/a
Series Notes: Olkowski is 0-5 against Penn State in
her two-plus years.
33 * EMILY BUTLER G, Jr., Greenwood, Ind.
Started first four games averaging 12.8 points ... Scored 18 points against Northern Illinois and 20 at the University of Miami (Fla.) ... Tore cartilage in right knee against Monmouth (N.J.) and is out for remainder of season.
12 * MELISSA CULVER G, Fr., Littleton, Colo.
Stepped in as Butler's replacement at point guard position ... Recorded 100th assist at Michigan State (1/27/02) ... Started 16 of 20 contests ... Fifth in the conference in assists per game (5.00) ... Twelfth in the Big Ten in 3-point FG's made with 25 and eighth in 3-point FG percentage, hitting 17-of-45 (.378) (conference games only) ... Tops on the team in 3-pointers made with 25 ... Nailed five 3-pointers against Illinois (12/30/01) and four more the following game against Purdue (1/3/02) ... Leads team with 100 assists and is second in steals with 30 ... Led the team in scoring two times: 16 points at Illinois (12/30/01) and 18 vs. Wisconsin (1/13/02) ... Recorded first double-double of collegiate career vs. Wisconsin (18 points/10 assists) ... Had nine assists against both Houston (12/1/01) and Iowa State (12/8/01) ... Led the team in assists 13 times this season.
13 * NICOLE DANIELS G/F, Jr., White Plains, N.Y.
Scored a season-high 10 points vs. Illinois (1/20/02) ... One of team's best defenders ... Was assigned to guard Tamara Moore against Wisconsin (1/13/02) and forced the Big Ten's second-leading scorer into 11 turnovers ... Had a team-high four steals vs. Wisconsin.
42 * LESLIE DOLLAND C, Jr., Bloomington, Minn.
Scored her 500th career point against Penn State last Thursday ... Scored in double figures seven times this season, averaging 11.0 points the last five games ... Earned her first start of the season against Wisconsin (1/13/02) ... In her first eight games, she averaged 4.8 points and 3.1 rebounds ... Since not seeing any game action against Iowa State ... Has averaged 10.0 points and 4.1 rebounds, and led the team in scoring three times ... One of two Wildcats to average double figures in conference play (10.2) ... Led a strong second-half comeback at Iowa (1/10/02), scoring 19 points (16 in the second half) on 5-of-9 from the floor and 9-of-12 from the free throw line.
4 * SARAH KWASINSKI C, Fr., Chicago, Ill.
Moved up one spot to fourth on NU's single-season block list, blocking 38 shots this year ... Needs 10 more to tie Anucha Browne's 1982-83 record of 48 ... Blocked seven shots vs. Illinois (1/20/02), breaking Anucha Brown's (twice in 1983-84 season) single-game record of six ... Eclipsed the 200-point mark with 21 against Illinois (1/20/02) ... Scored her 100th point (conference games only) vs. Penn State (1/24/02) ... Is on pace to be the first freshman in the program's 27-year history to lead the team in scoring ... The Fenwick High School standout is averaging 12.1 points per game, the closest upperclassmen to her is junior Leslie Dolland, who averages 7.8 points per game ... Third on the blocked shots list with 1.90 per game (overall) and third in the Big Ten with 2.33 blocks per game (conference only) ... Leads the team with 6.4 rebounds per game ... 12th on the Big Ten's rebounding list (6.4 rpg) ... Ranked 24th in the Big Ten in scoring (12.1 ppg) ... Started every game but the first two ... Scored a career-high 26 points against then No. 5 Iowa State (12/8/01), going 12-for-22 from the floor ... Her 22 attempts against ISU tied for ninth on the single-game FG's attempted list with Michele Ratay (1/7/96) ... Pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds against Monmouth (11/24/01) ... Has a team-leading four double-doubles ... Has led the team in scoring eight times this season and rebounding 10 times ... Has scored in double figures 14 times, eclipsing the 20-point mark twice ... Has scored at least four points in every game ... Reached double digit points in 14-of-20 games.
21 * MARIA McCARTHY F/C, Fr., Wyoming, Ohio
Has seen action in 12 games including three Big Ten contests ... Is a perfect 2-for-2 from the line.
0 * SAM McCOMB G, Fr., Farmington Hills, Mich.
Has started 11 straight games ... Led the team in scoring against Michigan State (1/27/02) scoring a season-high 15 points ... Dished out a season-high six assists against Iowa State (12/8/01) ... Made 13-of-15 free throws for a .867 percentage ... Averages 20.2 minutes per game.
40 * ASHLEY MESSENGER G, Sr., Scottsdale, Ariz.
Started the first five games of the year ... Scored a season-high 11 points at Eastern Illinois (12/16/01) ... Pulled down seven rebounds against Long Beach State (12/18/01).
22 * SUZANNE MORRISON F, Fr., Franklin, Mich.
Has started 13 games this season, seeing action in all 20 ... Recorded her first collegiate double-double against Hofstra (11/30/01) ... Missed two other double-doubles by one rebound ... Scored a career-high 19 points against Denver (12/5/01) ... Has led the team in rebounding eight times this season and scoring twice ... Second on the team in rebounding, averaging 5.7 caroms per game.
32 * BILL?E RUSSELL F, Sr., Sleepy Hollow, Ill.
Has seen action in 13 games ... Scored a season-high six points in NU's first meeting with Iowa (12/22/01).
5 * ANYA WALKER G, Jr., Beloit, Wis.
Scored 10 points and pulled down six rebounds against Hofstra (11/30/01), both season highs ... Second on the team in 3-pointers made with 13 ... 59 of 96 shots taken on the year have come from behind the 3-point line ... Has played in 17 contests, starting four.
30 * NATALIE WILL F, Jr., Nappanee, Ind.
Had a career-high six steals vs. Michigan State (1/27/02) ... Tallied a career-high 10 assists vs. Illinois (1/20/02) ... Ranked ninth in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio (conference games only) with a 1.33 ratio (40 assists, 30 turnovers) ... Shooting 39 percent from 3-point range in all games (12-31) and 35 percent in conference games (7-for-20) ... Tied for seventh in assists per game (conference only) with a 4.44 average ... Leads the team in steals (33) for all games and in league action (20) ... Scored a season-high 14 points against Long Beach State ... Has seen action in all 20 games, starting 13.
24 * MICHELLE ZYLSTRA F, So., Huntington Beach, Calif.
Has seen game action in all 20 games, starting the first nine ... Scored 17 points at Miami (Fla.) on 6-of-7 shooting including 2-for-2 from behind the arc ... Averages 15.3 minutes per game.
Project PEN PALS
All 14 members of Northwestern's women's basketball team are teaming up with Kingsley Elementary School in Evanston as part of project PEN PAL. The design of the project is to create community awareness about women's basketball and get young women more involved in athletics. The young women will get a chance to meet with their respective PEN PAL when they will have a meet-and-greet at the Feb. 10 game vs. Minnesota at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Triple Threat
Three players-all freshmen-have reached the double-double plateau for the Wildcats this season: center Sarah Kwasinski, forward Suzanne Morrison and guard Melissa Culver. Kwasinski leads the group with four, while Morrison and Culver have each recorded one.
To Start or Not to Start
After starting 26 games a year ago, junior Leslie Dolland earned her first start of the 2001-02 season vs. Wisconsin (four games). Since then she has averaged 11.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game and has scored in double figures three of the last four.
Where There's a "Will" There's a Way
Junior forward Natalie Will started the first two games of the season, then found herself as the team's sixth man, but worked her way back into the starting lineup. Since her introduction back into the lineup (Eastern Illinois), she has averaged 7.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.5 steals per contest.
Trifecta
Leslie Dolland, Sarah Kwasinski and Melissa Culver have combined to score 292 of NU's 529 points in conference games-that is 55 percent of the offense. Dolland and Kwasinski average double figures in league games.
Board Games
As a team, NU is fifth in the conference in offensive rebounding, averaging 14.44 a game. 6-foot-5-inch Sarah Kwasinski is pulling down 2.62 caroms a game. Indiana's Jill Chapman leads the league with 3.56 rebounds per game.
Rebounding
With 20 games under her belt, Sarah Kwasinski leads the rebounding attack, pulling down 6.4 boards per game. Classmate Suzanne Morrison is on her heels, averaging 5.5 caroms per contest. Beyond that, the two have combined to grab 93 of NU's 225 individual offensive boards (team rebounds equal 50).
Charity Stripe
Twenty games into the season, Northwestern has hit 220-of-310 free throw attempts. That is 71 percent, sixth in the Big Ten.
Quick Studies
There are six newcomers to the 2002 women's basketball squad. This group has made the transition from high school to college (with the exception of Anya Walker-JuCo transfer) and stepped right into the Wildcat lineup. In fact, NU has scored 1,185 total points this season, and 664 of those have been scored by the newest members of the team. That is 56 percent of the offense.
From Downtown
Before being sidelined by injury, junior Emily Butler was creeping up the career three-point field goals made list and the career three-point field goals attempted list. As of Nov. 26, she has hit 64 career three-pointers, needing just seven more to tie Kellie Cook for seventh on the career list. She also is seventh on the three-point field goals attempted list, launching 199 long balls.
Honorable Mention
Emily Butler is the Wildcats' top returner after earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in 2000-01. The Greenwood, Ind., native averaged 12.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game last year and scored in double figures 15 of the 26 games she played. Butler led the team in shots made and attempted while averaging more than 32 minutes a game, and was second on the team in three-pointers (28) and steals (32).
Not Just Yet
Due to NCAA transfer rules, Kristin Ambrose must sit out the entire 2001-02 season.
"Kristin has postseason experience and is dedicated not only to making her game better, but making our team's game better," said Olkowski. "She'll be a huge asset in practice."
At Virginia, she appeared in six games in 2000-01 and averaged 3.0 minutes, registering two rebounds against Mount St. Mary's. She also played against Loyola, Saint Francis, Maryland, Liberty and Richmond.
New Addition
Prior to the season, Coach Olkowski announced the hiring of former Notre Dame standout Sheila McMillen as her third assistant. McMillen comes to Evanston after spending two years as the third assistant coach at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich.
Freshmen PT
As the Wildcats took the floor for the season opener, true freshman Suzanne Morrison made her collegiate debut. Classmate Sarah Kwasinski broke into the lineup two games later, earning the start against Florida International. In all, the freshman class has made a considerable contribution already in this young season. Four of the five members of the 2005 class have started a game and all five have seen considerable action this season.
Don't Call It a Comeback
Junior Anya Walker is playing this year after sitting out the entire 2000-01 season with turf toe. The Wisconsin native is averaging 4.1 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. Fifty-nine of Walker's 96 shot attempts have been from beyond the arc.
World Traveler
Senior Ashley Messenger went on a nine-day tour of Europe this summer during which she helped the Big Ten women's basketball foreign tour team go a perfect 5-0. The Big Ten outscored its opponents by an average of 38.4 points per contest. During the tour, Messenger averaged 4.4 points and played in all five games. She averaged 1.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists a game, and scored seven points against Martigny and Troistorents.
Top 21
Freshman Sarah Kwasinski, a standout center from Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Ill., was named to womenscollegehoops.com's Preseason Top 21 New Players of Impact prior to the 2001-02 season.