Jan. 2, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. -
MSU Game Notes in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Date/Time: Thursday, Jan. 2, 2003
Site: Evanston, Ill./Northwestern University
Arena/Capacity: Welsh-Ryan Arena/8,117
Series: vs. Michigan State--Series is tied at 21
Radio/TV: WNUR 89.3 FM/none
Internet: none
Northwestern entered the Big Ten portion of its schedule with its best nonconference record (5-5) in three years. But after a dismal opener at Ohio State on Tuesday-an 82-49 loss-the Wildcats look at Michigan State to open the new year with its first conference win. The game, NU's Big Ten home opener, is the Spartans' first conference action of the season as they own an 8-13 all-time opening day league record. The last and only time Michigan State started league play against the Wildcats was back during the 1981-82 season. NU won 73-45.
In the 28-year existence of the Wildcat program, Northwestern owns a 215-114 all-time Big Ten record at home, which is the third highest number of home conference wins of all the Big Ten teams. Indiana is on top with 369 wins in Assembly Hall, while Michigan State has won 113 games at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich.
NU is led by a pair of sophomores in Sarah Kwasinski and Samantha McComb. Kwasinski is among the league leaders in most offensive categories (14.5 ppg) and ranked among the league's top-five shot blockers (18). She has recorded three double-doubles this season and eight for her career. Kwasinski has led the team in scoring in six of its 11 contests and has been the 'Cats top rebounder nine times. McComb is becoming one of the league's top three-point shooters, hitting 33 percent (17-for-51) from beyond the arc. She is also second on the team with 30 assists. Senior Natalie Will leads the team with 34 assists.
Another up and coming scoring threat is sophomore Kristin Ambrose. Ambrose is in her first year of Big Ten play after sitting out last year because of NCAA transfer rules. She played her freshman season with Virginia. The Minnesota native is averaging 10.8 points per game her last five games.