Feb. 28, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern wraps up a grueling three-game week--and the 2008-09 regular season--Sunday when it hosts Iowa in a 2 p.m. contest at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game will be streamed live at NUsports.com. Sunday is also Senior Day and Northwestern will honor four Wildcat seniors and one trainer prior to tip. Julie Bielawski, Erin Dickerson, Chiana Hung and Ellen Jaeschke will be playing their final game in Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Last Time Out ... Sophomore Amy Jaeschke poured in 18 points and added seven rebounds but Penn State prevailed on its Senior Night, 65-50, Thursday at the Bryce-Jordan Center. Junior Kristin Cartwright joined Jaeschke in double figures with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 effort from the free-throw line.
Scouting Iowa
The Hawkeyes visit Welsh-Ryan Arena as one of the hottest teams in the league, having won their last five games, including an impressive victory over then-No. 13 Ohio State and a solid 69-56 win last time out against Illinois at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Three Hawks scored in double figures against the Fighting Illini, led by sophomore Kachine Alexander and freshman Kamille Wahlin's 13 points. Alexander pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds to record her team-leading seventh double-double of the season. The underclassmen's production against Illinois is a testament to Iowa's depth--one of its keys to success--since three seniors top the season scoring list. Krisi Smith (13.2), Megan Skouby (12.4) and Wendy Ausdemore (12.1) are all averaging double figures while Alexander is tops on the squad with 8.8 rebounds per outing. As a team, Iowa leads the conference in free-throw percentage (.796), three-point field goal percentage (.363) and assist-to-turnover ratio (0.95). The Hawks are currently tied with Michigan State for third in the conference with a 19-9 overall record and a 12-5 Big Ten mark. Iowa has won 11 out of their last 13 games.
The Series against the Hawkeyes
Iowa holds a 41-12 all-time record against Northwestern after downing the Wildcats 74-46 back on Jan. 18 in Iowa City. Three 'Cats tallied double-figures, but Iowa capitalized on its home court advantage and shot 50 percent from the field en route to the victory. Freshman Brittany Orban led NU with 13 points, while Kristin Cartwright and Amy Jaeschke added 12 and 10 points, respectively. Jaeschke and Cartwright added a team-high six rebounds.
This Season Under the Microscope
Northwestern's victory over Minnesota on Monday was the third conference win for the Wildcats this season and the highest total since the 2002-03 season. With a victory Sunday, Northwestern would have a .500 (8-8) record at home. The last time that happened was in the 1997-98 season when the 'Cats finished one game above .500 (8-7) in Welsh-Ryan Arena. Also this season, the 'Cats were awarded their first Big Ten Player of the Week since the 1996-97 season. Individually, severeal Wildcats have had outstanding seasons thus far. Amy Jaeschke has surpassed several of her numbers from all of last season. She has already bested her points, assists, blocks, steals and rebounding totals. Other 'Cats to have stepped up include sophomore Meshia Reed, who shot .336 from the field last season compared to a .423 clip this year. Senior Erin Dickerson has already surpassed her point total, total steals and three-point shooting percentage from last season.
Crashing the Boards
Northwestern has out-rebounded its opponents in four out of the last six games and in five out of the last eight. Amy Jaeschke leads the way with 8.4 rpg, which ranks seventh in the league, while Kristin Cartwright is second with 4.4 per outing. Jaeschke led Northwestern with seven rebounds against Penn State on Thursday. As a team, NU is averaging 33.9 rebounds a game.
For complete game notes please click on the PDF above.