Jan. 12, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Three Wildcats scored in double-figures, but it was not enough as Indiana bested Northwestern, 69-56 Thursday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena. A.J. Glasauer (Freiburg, Germany/Theodor-Heuss Gymnasium), Ifeoma Okonkwo (Spring, Texas/Klein Oak) and Sara Stutz (Glenbrook, Ill./Glenbrook South) all gave double-digit performances as Northwestern pulled to 4-11, 0-5 on the season.
"I told the team we have a lot of talent, but we need to have more heart out there," head coach Beth Combs said. "We are not deep enough and we are not solid enough one-on-one to only have a couple people show up every night. I just think that we didn't defend and we have to work to correct that because we can win games in this league."
Okonkwo registered her second-consecutive double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. That is her fifth this season and eighth on her career. Stutz eclipsed a season-high point total set last time out against Illinois. The Glenbrook native tallied 16 points and added three rebounds and three assists. Glasauer recorded her ninth double-digit performance of the season, shooting 5-of-7 from the field for 11 points. Freshman Kristin Cartwright (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) continued to shine, recording a career-high seven assists.
NU came out off of the tip looking to score from deep, connecting on 3-of-4 treys in the first six minutes to jump out to a 13-10 advantage. Indiana came back to mount a 37-21 lead at the half.
The Wildcats came out of halftime with renewed enthusiasm, outscoring the Hoosiers in the second half, 35-32.
Northwestern exchanged baskets with IU for the first part of the second stanza before outscoring the Hoosiers, 17-8 in the last eight minutes. Stutz, who scored all of her team-high 16 points in the second stanza, spearheaded the run with seven points.
NU out-shot the Hoosiers from beyond the arc, nailing almost 43 percent (6-of-14) and bested them at the free-throw line, hitting 8-of-12 (66.7 percent).
The Wildcats next hit the hardwood when they host Iowa for a 2 p.m. tip on Sunday at Welsh-Ryan Arena.