Big Ten Tournament First-Round Action Begins at 4:30 p.m. Thursday Against Iowa

March 5, 2003

EVANSTON, Ill. -

Big Ten Tournament Notes in PDF Format
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2002-03 Athlete Bio's in PDF Format
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Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament
Northwestern has won three games in the Big Ten Tournament since its revival in 1995. Last season, the 11th-seeded Wildcats fell to Wisconsin, 60-58. In 2001, 11th-seeded Northwestern fell to Illinois, 75-60. In 2000, 10th-seeded Northwestern became only the second 10-seed to win an opening round tournament game when they, ironically, defeated seventh-seeded Iowa, 68-59.

1995
Quaterfinals
(5) Indiana 77, (4) NU 75

1996
First Round
(7) NU 89, (10) Michigan 79
Quaterfinals
(2) Penn State 85, NU 70

1997
Quaterfinals
(4) Iowa 73, (5) NU 63

1998
First Round
(7) Penn State 97, (10) NU 76

1999
First Round
(9) NU 75, (8) Iowa 71
Quaterfinals
(1) Purdue 79, NU 56

2000
First Round
(10) NU 68, (7) Iowa 59
Quaterfinals
(2) Michigan 72, NU 39

2001
First Round
(6) Illinois 75, (11) NU 60

2002
First Round
(7) Wisconsin 60, (11) NU 58

The Series vs. Iowa
Iowa owns a 31-12 advantage in the all-time series vs. the Wildcats, and has won five in a row, including one matchup this season.

At Iowa-Jan. 16, 2003
Iowa's Jennie Lillis scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Hawkeyes defeated Northwestern 72-60 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. The Wildcats opened the game on a 9-2 run before Iowa came storming back scoring 15 of the next 16 points and taking a 17-10 lead with 11:51 remaining in the first half. NU didn't stay down long, answering with a 14-4 run of its own. Iowa had a 38-31 halftime lead. Iowa opened the second half outscoring NU 7-4 to take its biggest lead of the game, 45-35. But for the next 4:21, neither team would record a point, as both offenses stalled and turnovers and fouls took center stage. The streak was broken when junior Michelle Zylstra hit a three-pointer, bringing the 'Cats to within seven at 45-38. Down five (56-51), Zylstra hit two free throws followed by one of two Sarah Kwasinski blocks on the defensive end of the floor. Kwasinski was rewarded seconds later when Zylstra found her open underneath the basket, making the score 56-55 Iowa. Two Hawkeye free throws and another Kwasinski layup made the score 58-57 with 3:50 to go in regulation. But that's as close as NU would get

In the Olkowski Era
NU has a 1-3 record in the Big Ten Tournament with June Olkowski at the helm. In 2000, 10th-seeded Northwestern upset seventh-seed Iowa, 68-59. It was the second time in tournament history a 10-seed defeated a seven-seed.

On The Road Again
All-time, NU is 1-2 at Conseco Fieldhouse in the Big Ten Tournament. NU defeated Iowa 68-59 in the first round in 1999, and followed with a 72-39 loss to Michigan. After a one-year hiatus to Grand Rapids, Mich., NU returned to Conseco and dropped a heartbreaker to Wisconsin, 60-58, as Natalie Will's 10-foot jumper rimmed out at the buzzer.