Dec. 17, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The Wildcats jump back into action Monday when they host Georgia Tech for a noon contest at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Northwestern is in the middle of a three-game stretch over a five-day span. NU (6-5) fell to Nebraska, 79-57, Saturday, take on the Yellow Jackets on Monday before heading to Utah for a 1 p.m. game against the Utes on Wednesday. Monday is Field Trip Day and admission is free for everyone.
Last Time Out --
Northwestern fought hard and was down only six points with seven minutes left, but Nebraska used a 16-9 run to outlast the 'Cats, 73-58, Saturday afternoon at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Freshman Kaitlin McInerney pulled down a career-best 12 rebounds and chipped in 10 points for her first career double-double, while A.J. Glasauer dumped in a team-best 16 points.
Nebraska opened the game with a 7-0 run before a 3-pointer by Glasauer put the 'Cats on the board at the 16:26 mark of the first half. A trey by Beth Marshall capped off a 10-4 Wildcat run that notched the score at 13 a piece at the 12:17 point.
The Huskers responded with a 9-0 spurt before Northwestern mounted a 13-4 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer by Erin Dickerson that evened the game at 26 and forced the Huskers to call a momentum-breaking timeout with 4:02 remaining in the half.
After exchanging baskets over the next four minutes, the score was 33-28 with 1:43 remaining. Following a combined five empty possessions by both teams there were six seconds left and it seemed like the scoring for the half was over, but Ashley Ford had other ideas. The senior launched a 3-pointer from half court and as the clock hit zero, the ball swished, giving the Huskers a 36-28 lead at the break.
Glasauer led all Wildcats with eight points -- including two treys -- at the half. Stutz added six, including two three-pointers. Northwestern shot an impressive 6-of-9 from beyond the arc in the first half.
The Wildcats kept plugging away in the second half, cutting the eight-point deficit in half three minutes into the new stanza.
Nebraska pushed the lead to seven at the mid-point of the second half, but Northwestern kept fighting and a trey by Glasauer cut the difference to four, 49-45, with nine minutes remaining. A layup by Kristin Cartwright a minute later cut the lead to two. But Northwestern could only muster nine points over the next seven minutes, while the Huskers ran off 20.
Northwestern forced 11 Husker turnovers and held Nebraska to 30 percent shooting from 3-point land. The Wildcats knocked down an impressive 50 percent (7-of-14) from beyond the arc and hit 81 percent from the free throw line.
Stutz joined McInerney and Glasauer in double-figures with 10 points while Cartwright chipped in eight.
Scouting Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech comes to Welsh-Ryan Arena with a 5-3 mark and not having played a game all of last week due to finals. The last time the Yellow Jackets took to the hardwood was on Dec. 10 when they downed Jacksonville, 79-57, at home. GT is led by a trio of upperclassmen who are scoring in double-figures, including senior Stephanie Higgs (16.1 ppg), junior Janie Mitchell (15.9) and junior Chioma Nnamaka (13.9). Mitchell leads the team in scoring, followed by Nnamaka with 5.0 rpg. When Georgia Tech wins, it wins big. The Yellow Jackets are outscoring their opponents by an average margin of 17.5 ppg. Tech's three losses came consecutively and included a 14-point loss to Temple, a three-point defeat at the hands of San Diego and a 10-point loss to Georgia at home.
The Series with Georgia Tech
The last time these two teams met was in the 1992-93 campaign when Northwestern defeated Georgia Tech, 90-62 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Noting Northwestern
Score Early and Often
Northwestern is 6-0 on the year when tied or leading at the half. When scoring 60 points or more, the Wildcats are 6-1.
Off to a Good Start
The Wildcats' 67-53 victory over Princeton put the season win total at six, matching last year's win total for the entire season.
On the Big Stage
Northwestern ranks 19th in the nation in FG percentage defense and in assists, according to the most recent NCAA statistics (through Dec. 10). The Wildcats also rank in the top 60 (out of 324 Div. I teams) in scoring defense (42nd), rebound margin (52nd) and blocked shots per game (57th).