Minnesota Game Notes
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Jan. 10, 2007
EVANSTON, Ill -- The Wildcats welcome Minnesota to Welsh-Ryan Arena for a 7 p.m. contest Thursday evening. Northwestern is coming off a gutsy performance on Sunday, falling just short against the Iowa Hawkeyes in front of a Welsh-Ryan season-high crowd of 3,121. Following Thursday's game, Northwestern (6-10, 0-3) travels to No. 8 Ohio State for a 1 p.m. showdown on Sunday afternoon.
Last Time Out...
The Wildcats gave the Welsh-Ryan season-high crowd of 3,121 a competitive contest, but Iowa edged NU, 63-61, Sunday afternoon. Senior captain A.J. Glasauer scored a team-high 17 points and Melissa Miller matched her season-high 16 points to lead Northwestern.
Northwestern (6-10, 0-3) was down by 10 with 9:20 remaining in the game when Beth Marshall hit a three-pointer at the 8:30 mark to pull the Wildcats to within seven, 46-39.
After exchanging baskets, Miller converted on a fast-break pass from Glasauer to cut the lead to five with 4:30 remaining. Less than :30 seconds later, Kristin Cartwright converted on a 3-point play to pull NU to within three with 4:12 remaining.
The record-setting crowd, mostly wearing purple wigs to mirror Combs' purple-dyed hair, exploded when Glasauer hit a jumper from the free-throw line at the 3:20 mark to give the 'Cats a 56-55 advantage. It was Northwestern's first lead of the half.
Megan Scouby hit a bucket to put Iowa up four with 1:12 remaining. Miller answered on the following possession, cutting the lead to two, 63-61, with less than a minute remaining.
The 'Cats held Iowa on the next possession and called timeout with :20 seconds left to set up a play, but could not execute.
Both teams got out to a slow start to begin the game, shooting less than 35 percent for the first part of the opening stanza. Senior A.J. Glasauer scored 10 of the Wildcats' first 14 points.
The two teams picked up the pace and mirrored each other's baskets for the rest of the half, as no squad led by more than five points. The Hawkeyes held a slight 29-25 lead at the break. Glasauer led all scorers with 12 points on a 5-of-9 shooting effort.
Glasauer added four assists to go with her team-high 17 points, and Miller pulled down eight rebounds to compliment her 16 points.
Marshall chipped in a career-high eight points, thanks largely to two timely 3-pointers.
Kaitlin McInerney dished out a career-high seven assists, while leading the 'Cats on the glass with 10 rebounds.
Scouting the Gophers
Minnesota brings a 10-6 overall record and a 2-2 conference mark to Welsh-Ryan Arena, having dropped conference contests to Iowa (58-56), and Ohio State (75-62) while downing Illinois (70-61) and most recently Wisconsin (71-53). Senior guard Kelly Roysland leads an otherwise extremely young Gopher squad. The Minnesota roster features just four upperclassmen, two of which are projected starters for Thursday's game. Roysland dumped in 20 points to lead the Gophers over the Badgers on Thursday and is currently ranked 3rd in the conference with 17.5 ppg. Ashley Ellis-Milan leads Minnesota on the boards, pulling down 8.6 rpg.
The Series with Minnesota
Northwestern holds a 29-29 advantage in the all-time series against the Gophers. The last time the Wildcats defeated Minnesota was in 2000, when NU went into Williams Arena and pulled out a 50-44 victory.
Promotion Notes:Thursday is Give Me an "A" Day: All kids who bring in a school report card with an "A" grade receive $2 admission. It is also Wildcat Kids' Club Night: All Kids' Club members receive free admission with their valid membership card.
'Cat Nips
- Northwestern turned in its best performance in several weeks in a tough 63-61 loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes on Sunday afternoon. The Wildcats bounced back from a late 10-point deficit to have a chance to win the game in the last :20 seconds.
- Head coach Beth Combs sported an unusual "new-do" for the Iowa game. Combs accepted a dare to dye her hair purple if there were 3,000 pre-sold tickets to Sunday's game. The goal was reached and Combs' hair reflected the accomplishment.
- In the most recent NCAA statistics, Northwestern is 18th in the nation in assists, averaging 17.4 per contest. A.J. Glasauer leads NU with 55.
- Junior Sara Stutz has consistently scored in double figures throughout the season, tallying double digits in 14 of NU's 16 games. She has started every game this season--and every game of the career--and is averaging a team-best 30.8 mpg. The Glenview, Ill., native is second on the team in scoring (12.5 ppg) and FG percentage (46 percent). Stutz has also dished out 41 assists.
- Northwestern's upperclassmen have led the 'Cats in scoring in 15 of 16 games so far this season. Senior captain A.J. Glasauer has led NU in scoring nine times, while junior Sara Stutz has been the top scorer five times. Fellow classmate Melissa Miller has topped the scoring column twice.