Dec. 11, 2010
Site: Evanston, Ill. (Welsh-Ryan Arena)
Score: Northwestern 92, Central Michigan 84
Records: NU (8-1, 0-0 Big Ten), Central Michigan (6-3, 0-0 MAC)
Next NU Event: Dec. 13 -- at DePaul (McGrath Arena), 7 p.m.
EVANSTON, Ill.-- Amy Jaeschke turned in the game of her career, recording personal bests in both scoring and rebounding and Beth Marshall chipped in a career-tying 26 points as Northwestern pulled out a 92-84 victory over Central Michigan Saturday afternoon at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Jaeschke finished with an exceptional line, recording 37 points on 15-of-25 shooting from the field, 17 rebounds, four assists and six blocks. With the victory, the 'Cats improve to 8-1 on the season, the best start since the 1995-96 season.
Central Michigan, a team averaging 89.5 ppg so far this season, used two triples to seize the momentum, jumping out to a 12-6 lead in the first four minutes. But a trio of turnovers and a 7-0 run, sparked by a three pointer from Brittany Orban, quickly made it a one-possession difference, 15-13, with just under 13 minutes remaining.
But the Chippewas responded with a 5-0 run and continued to build their lead, extending it to as many as 12 at the 8:07 mark. The Wildcats looked to their senior captain, Jaeschke, to right the ship, and she did just that. The 6-foot-5 center spearheaded a 9-2 spurt that set the tally at 33-28 with 5:35 remaining. Less that a minute later, Jaeschke began to single-handedly take control of the game, rattling off nine unanswered points -- punctuated by a time out-inducing three pointer -- to give Northwestern its first lead of the game, 37-35, with just under three minutes left in the frame.
The Wildcats scored four points to end the half and head into the locker room with a 41-39 upper hand. Jaeschke was 10-of-15 from the field to lead all scorers with 23 points while also adding eight boards and three blocks. After a bleak start offensively, Northwestern finished the half at a 48.6 percent clip. The Wildcats would end up shooting a season-best 50 percent on the game.
Central Michigan opened the scoring in the second half, taking a one-point lead on a three-pointer by Brandie Baker. Northwestern maintained the advantage -- albeit as little as a bucket -- through the first nine minutes until the Chippewas seized the lead on a lay-in by Taylor Johnson. CMU, picked to finish third in the MAC West this year, grabbed a four-point upper hand on a triple from Johnson, but Jaeschke refused to allow the visitors a lead for long. She scored the next five points to give the 'Cats an advantage they would never surrender.
Northwestern scored the last 10 points of the game -- six of which were from free-throws by Marshall -- to emerge with its eighth triumph of the season. The Wildcats relied on an 18-of-24 effort from the free-throw line, including a 10-of-12 performance from Marshall and a 6-of-8 result from Jaeschke.
Together, Jaeschke and Marshall, the team's two senior captains, accounted for 63 of the team's 92 points. Orban was the only other Wildcat in double figures, turning in 15 points and five assists.
The Wildcats return to action Monday when they make a quick trip down to Chicago to face RV/No. 24 DePaul. Tip is set for 7 p.m.
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