Feb. 18, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The final stretch of the 2008-09 season looks favorable for Northwestern, as three out of the last four regular-season contests are at home, starting with Indiana at 7 p.m. Thursday evening. The 'Cats then host Minnesota Monday, Feb. 23 in a 7 p.m. affair which will be carried live on the Big Ten Network before wrapping-up the final two games at Penn State on Feb. 26 before hosting Iowa on March 1 for Senior Day.
Promotions
Thursday is Northwestern's "Pink Zone" Day, part of a global effort spearheaded by the WBCA (Women's Basketball Coaches' Association) to spread breast cancer awareness. In recognition of the event, the special pink uniforms the Wildcats are wearing will be auctioned off both today and on NUsports.com. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund, a charitable organization committed to playing a part in the fight against breast cancer through raising money for research, assisting the underserved and unifying people for a common cause. Check NUsports.com next week for the start of bidding.
Scouting Indiana
The Hoosiers enter today's game with a 16-8 overall record and a 9-6 mark in conference action. Indiana started the season with an impressive 14-3 record which included a nine-game winning streak, but have lost five of their last seven games entering Thursday's showdown. IU is coming out of another close game, a 67-61 overtime win against Wisconsin on Monday evening. Senior Amber Jackson is the Hoosiers' leading scorer with 13.1 ppg, while classmate Whitney Thomas leads the team in rebounding with 9.0 per game. If the statistics prove true, today's game will be a low-scoring affair, as the Hoosiers are averaging 67 points per game while Northwestern is turning in an average of 56 points per outing. Both squads are shooting right around 40 percent on the season. Indiana is led by third-year head coach Felisha Legette-Jack.
The Series against Hoosiers
Indiana leads the all-time series between the two teams 32-28. The last time the two squards met was on Dec. 20 when Indiana claimed an 81-57 victory. Freshman Maggie Mocchi led the 'Cats in scoring with 18 points.
Jaeschke Etches Her Name In NU Record Books
Sophomore Amy Jaeschke has already clawed her way into the Wildcat record books. Jaeschke now tops the single-season blocks list as she currently has 80 on the season. She also appears in the double-doubles list, notching a team-leading seven so far this season.
Orban Shines Against Ohio State
Freshman Brittany Orban poured in a personal-best 25 points to lead Northwestern against No. 18/13 Ohio State on Feb. 15 in the North Canton, Ohio, native's first homecoming of her career. Orban's 25 points came on a 5-of-9 effort from the field and a perfect 13-of-13 from the charity stripe. She also knocked down 2-of-3 from beyond the arc while not committing a turnover. Her seven rebounds was a Wildcat high for the game and tied a career high also.
Putting In Some Serious Time
Amy Jaeschke and Jenny Eckhart are two of the top players in the conference in minutes played per game, logging 35.80 and 35.08, respectively. Only Illinois has the same number of players in the top six.
Cartwright, Jaeschke Tops In Big Ten
In the most recent Big Ten statistics, Kristin Cartwright and Amy Jaeschke lead the league in free-throw percentage (.851) and blocks (3.28), respecitvely. Jaeschke is also fourth in scoring (14.2) and in defensive rebounds (6.28). Brittany Orban checks in at 3rd in free-throw percentage (.829). As a team, the Wildcats are second in blocked shots per outing (4.80) and sixth in rebounding defense (35.4).
For complete game notes, please click on the PDF above.