Feb. 21, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. -
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NORTHWESTERN (4-21, 0-14)
vs. Michigan (15-10, 5-9)
Date/Time: Thursday, Feb. 21/7 p.m. CST
Site: Welsh-Ryan Arena (Evanston, Ill.)
Capacity: 8,117
Radio: WNUR (89.3 FM)
Television: Fox Sports Net (Chicago)
Tonight is senior night, and Northwestern is showing off its youth. The women's basketball program is saying goodbye to just one student-athlete, Illinois native Bill?e Russell. Ashley Messenger is also a senior but has decided to return for her fifth year of eligibility.
"Bill?e (Russell) has left her mark on this program," says head coach June Olkowski. "We will miss her great strength and unselfishness and the classy manner in which she handles herself."
With the departure of just one senior, the youth movement has been evident all year as Coach Olkowski has started three true freshman in 20 straight games, including a seven-game stretch when she started four.
Enter stage right, growing pains.
Throughout the season, NU has experienced the trials and tribulations of growing up in the rugged Big Ten. The "learn as you go" philosophy has seen its share of disappointments, but close losses to three top-20 teams and a couple of near-road upsets has proven the base is set for a powerful future.
Leading NU's youth movement is Freshman of the Year candidate Sarah Kwasinski. The Chicago native averages 15.1 points per conference game and is second only to Indiana's Jill Chapman in total blocks (54). Kwasinski has 51.
Last Time Out vs. Michigan-Feb. 3, 2002
Northwestern's women's basketball team fell to Michigan by a score of 74-67 at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The first half was an evenly matched affair, as both teams traded baskets the majority of the period. With 9:12 remaining in the first stanza, NU took its first lead of the game, 16-15, before Michigan reeled off 11 of the next 13 points to gain a 26-18 advantage. After trading baskets, the Wildcats were down 33-25 with just under a minute to play in the half. After a timeout, junior Natalie Will hit a 10-foot jumper to end the half.
NU opened the second half with a 9-2 run to take a brief 36-35 lead. The teams traded baskets the next four minutes before Michigan pulled away, outscoring NU 17-8 to take a 52-42 advantage with 10:29 remaining.
The two teams essentially traded baskets the rest of the way with NU coming as close as five on two different occasions.
Northwestern was led by freshman center Sarah Kwasinski, who finished with a game-high 24 points, 16 in the second half. She was 12-for-21 from the floor and led all rebounders with eight caroms, including five on the offensive glass.
Will and freshman Melissa Culver each ended the game in double figures as well. Will had 12 points and Culver finished with 14. Culver was 4-for-6 from three-point range.
Block Party
Sarah Kwasinski blocked eight shots over the weekend in losses to Wisconsin and Ohio State. She now has 51 on the year and leads all Big Ten freshmen in that category. She also has the second highest total of anyone in the Big Ten. Indiana's Jill Chapman has 54.
The Last Time
The last time a Northwestern team topped 100 points in one game was against the Wolverines back on Feb. 16, 1997. NU defeated Michigan 104-65 in Ann Arbor.
In the Olkowski Era
With June Olkowski at the helm, NU has an 0-5 record against the Wolverines. Each team has played two homes games while meeting in the Big Ten Tournament once.
Down The Stretch
As the regular season comes to a close and teams gear up for postseason play, Sarah Kwasinski is hitting her stride at the right moment. The Chicago native is averaging 21.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game in NU's last four outings. She led the Wildcats in scoring all four games, which included road games at Michigan (24 pts, 8 rbs) and Wisconsin (15 pts, 8 rbs).
Last 10 vs. Michigan 2/3/02 L 74-67 Crisler Arena 1/28/01 L 74-59 Crisler Arena 1/18/01 L 83-41 Welsh-Ryan Arena 3/3/00 L 72-39 Conseco Fieldhouse (Big Ten Tourney) 2/27/00 L 70-46 Welsh-Ryan Arena 1/24/99 L 64-54 Welsh-Ryan Arena 2/15/98 L ot 70-64 Crisler Arena 1/2/98 L 77-69 Welsh-Ryan Arena 2/16/97 W 104-65 Welsh-Ryan Arena 1/3/97 L 97-90 Crisler Arena
WILDCATS vs. WOLVERINES
Series Record: NU leads 29-15
Last NU win: 2/16/97 (104-65)
Last Michigan win: 2/3/02 (74-67)
Current Win Streak: Michigan-8 wins
In Evanston: 14-6
at Michigan: 13-8
Neutral Site: 2-1
Overtime Games: 0-2
Series Notes: Olkowski is 0-5 against Michigan in her two-plus years.
The Friendly Confines
All-time, NU is 14-6 at Welsh-Ryan Arena vs. the Wolverines. Even though the 'Cats have lost the last four in a row at home vs. Michigan, the Wildcats have averaged 72.7 points per game compared to 64.2 for Michigan.
Movin' On Up
After recording eight blocks over the weekend, Sarah Kwasinski moved past Anucha Browne for third place (48 in 1982-83) on the single-season blocked shots list. Browne still owns the No. 2 spot with 55 in 1983-84. Kwasinski currently has 51.
Sultan of Swat
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.
"Assist"ing Others
Freshman Melissa Culver continues to rank among the league leaders in assists per game, averaging 4.8 helpers per game. She is currently fourth in the Big Ten and on her way to having the highest assist total (120) since Megan Chewansky recorded 152 in 1999.
Kleptomania
Natalie Will tallied six steals vs. Michigan State (1/27/01), setting a career high. She leads the team in that category (44), tying her own team-best steal total from last season.
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 five, while Morrison and Culver have each recorded one.
Trifecta
Leslie Dolland, Sarah Kwasinski and Melissa Culver have combined to score 402 of NU's 721 points in conference games-that is 56 percent of the offense. Kwasinski and Dolland average double figures in league games (14.3 and 10.3).
33 * EMILY BUTLER G, Jr., Greenwood, Ind.
Started first four games and averaged 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 ... Needs just 21 points to reach 200 in her career ... Recorded 100th assist at Michigan State (1/27/02) ... Started 21 of 25 contests ... Fourth in the conference in assists per game (4.80) ... Ninth in the Big Ten in 3-point FG's made with 21 and 11th in 3-point FG percentage (conference games only), hitting 21-of-63 (.333) ... Tops on the team in 3-pointers made with 29 ... Nailed five 3-pointers against Illinois (12/30/01) and four against Purdue (1/3/02) and Michigan (2/3/02) ... Her five threes in a game tied for 10th on the single-game record list ... Leads team with 120 assists and is second in steals with 38 ... 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 15 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 fourth-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 (1/24/02) ... Scored in double figures eight times this season ... Earned her first start of the season against Wisconsin (1/13/02) ... 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 ... Had 15 points and eight rebounds in NU's first meeting with Iowa (12/22/01), both team highs ... Scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds against Minnesota (2/10/02).
4 * SARAH KWASINSKI C, Fr., Chicago, Ill.
Moved up to third on NU's single-season block list, blocking eight shots over the weekend ... Needs four more to tie Anucha Browne's 1983-84 record of 55 ... Blocked seven shots vs. Illinois (1/20/02), breaking Anucha Browne's single-game record of six (twice in 1983-84 season) ... Eclipsed the 200-point mark with 21 against Illinois (1/20/02) ... Topped 300 points with 15 against Wisconsin (2/14/02) ... 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 13.3 points per game, the closest upperclassmen to her is junior Leslie Dolland, who averages 7.8 points per game ... Third on the Big Ten's blocked shots list overall (2.04 per game) and second in conference games (2.43 per game) ... Leads the team with 6.6 rebounds per game ... 13th on the Big Ten's rebounding list ... 14th on the Big Ten scoring list (15.1 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) ... Scored 21 at home vs. Illinois (1/20/02) on 6-for-11 shooting and 9-for-11 from the free throw line ... Put up 24 points, going 12-for-21 from the floor against Michigan (2/3/02) ... Shot a career-best 77 percent vs. Minnesota (2/10/02) on 10-of-13 from the floor ... Recorded fifth double double vs. Ohio State (2/17/02), scoring 25 points (11-of-16) and grabbing 10 rebounds ... Pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds against Monmouth (11/24/01) ... Has a team-leading five double-doubles ... Has led the team in scoring 12 times this season and rebounding 14 times ... Has scored in double figures 18 times, eclipsing the 20-point mark five times ... Has scored at least four points in every game.
21 * MARIA McCARTHY F/C, Fr., Wyoming, Ohio
Has seen action in 15 games including six Big Ten contests ... Grabbed two rebounds against Penn State (1/31/02) ... Is a perfect 2-for-2 from the line.
0 * SAM McCOMB G, Fr., Farmington Hills, Mich.
Had a career-high 18 points and scored her 100th career point vs. Minnesota (2/10/02) ... In that game, McComb hit 5-of-9 three-point attempts, tying teammate Melissa Culver for 10th on the single-game record list ... 85 of her 119 total points have come during Big Ten contests ... Has started 16 straight games ... Led the team in scoring against Michigan State (1/27/02) with 15 points ... Dished out a season-high six assists against Iowa State (12/8/01) ... Made 24-of-29 free throws for a .828 percentage ... Averages 22.8 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 and seen action in 24 ... 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 5.4 caroms per game.
32 * BILL?E RUSSELL F, Sr., Sleepy Hollow, Ill.
Has seen action in 15 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 a season-high 11 points against Ohio State (2/17/02) ... In that game, hit a season-high three 3-pointers ... Scored 10 points and pulled down a season-high six rebounds against Hofstra (11/30/01) ... Third on the team in 3-pointers made with 17 ... 67 of 105 shots taken on the year have come from behind the 3-point line ... Has played in 20 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 eighth in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio (conference games only) with a 1.40 ratio (59 assists, 42 turnovers) ... 10th in assists per game (conference only) with a 4.21 average ... Leads the team in steals (44) for all games and in league action (31) ... Scored a season-high 14 points against Long Beach State ... Has seen action in all 25 games, starting 18.
24 * MICHELLE ZYLSTRA F, So., Huntington Beach, Calif.
Has seen action in all 25 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 14.0 minutes per game.