Dec. 17, 2011
2011 Basketball Travelers Invitational
Dec. 18-20 Las Vegas, Nev.
Northwestern (8-1) at UNLV (8-2)
Sunday, Dec. 18
Cox Pavilion (13,472) 7 p.m. CT
Northwestern vs. UNLV -- Game Notes 
Northwestern vs. Kansas State
Monday, Dec. 19
Cox Pavilion 9:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern vs. North Dakota State
Tuesday, Dec. 20
Cox Pavilion 7 p.m. CT
Gametracker: Tournament Website
In-game Twitter updates: @NU_SportsLIVE
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern visits the bright lights of Las Vegas this weekend to take part in the BTI Invitational Tournament, hosted by UNLV. The Wildcats battle the host Rebels Sunday at 7 p.m. CT before taking on Kansas State and North Dakota State on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. The other side of the eight-team bracket, deemed the Duel in the Desert, include Xavier, Oklahoma, Syracuse and Ohio University.
All games will be played in the Cox Pavilion and fans can follow the action via Gametracker at www.unlvrebels.com or via Twitter @NU_SportsLIVE.
Following the tournament, Northwestern returns home for the holiday but jumps right back into action on Dec. 27 when it hosts Toledo at 6 p.m. at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Wildcats open the Big Ten season following that game as they travel to Iowa for a 6 p.m. contest on Dec. 30.
Last Time Out...
Junior Kendall Hackney poured in a career-high 29 points and Northwestern shot a season-best 51 percent to top Morgan State, 87-74, Wednesday afternoon in front of a raucous crowd of 4,251. The victory, which came on Northwestern's annual Field Trip Day, was the Wildcats' eighth of the season.
OPPONENTS PROFILE
UNLV Rebels
2011-12 Record: 8-2
Series History: UNLV , 1-0
Last Meeting: 2000; UNLV , 84-74
Kansas State Wildcats
2011-12 Record: 6-2
Series History: Northwestern, 3-2
Last Meeting: 2009; Northwestern, 53-50
North Dakota State
2010-11 Record: 2-8
Series History: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Orban Tears ACL
Senior four-year starter Brittany Orban tore her ACL against NC State on Nov. 30 and will be out indefinitely. Her absence will be felt on several levels, especially considering she started every game except three in her career in Evanston.
Talk About Point Production
Northwestern is averaging 77 points over the last four contests, bringing their average up to 70.4 (from 65.0 through the first five games) per outing. The Wildcats dumped a season-high 87 points in their 13-point victory over Morgan State last week, posting a season-best 45 points in the first half.
High Five
According to the most recent NCAA statistics, (12.11.11), and freshman Karly Roser ranks seventh in the nation in assists per game (6.9). Roser is second in the Big Ten in that category.
Hello, Kendall Hackney
Junior Kendall Hackney has scored 20 or more points in NU's last three games, including a career-high 29 points in the Wildcats' win over Morgan State last week. Hackney leads the team with 16.7 ppg and ranks sixth in the Big Ten in scoring.
Answering The Call
Senior captain Allison Mocchi is averaging outstanding numbers since starting at Missouri, averaging six points(up from 1.6 in the first five games), two steals, 5.6 assists and 4.3 reb. per game. Against Missouri alone, she recorded in a season-best nine points, four assists and four steals.
Wildcats In The RPI
The first edition of the RPI (Rating Percentage Index) came out this week, and Northwestern ranked 14th in the nation and was one of only two Big Ten squads to crack the Top-15. Penn State led the way with an RPI of 11.
Newcomers Dominate Freshman of the Week Accolades
Morgan Jones and Karly Roser have had somewhat of a monopoly on the Conference's Freshman of the Week honor, winning it in three of the first four weeks of the season. Jones won it on back-to-back weeks (Nov. 28/Dec. 5) and Roser made the list first, garnering it on Nov. 21.
Oh, And More About Morgan
Jones is the only freshman to appear in the Big Ten's top-15 leading scorers, coming in 10th with 14.8 ppg. She also tied for second in three-pointers made per game (2.3 apg) and is seventh in defensive rebounds per game (5.1 spg).
Wildcats Pick Up Votes In AP Poll
After defeating No. 23 LSU, knocking off NC State and defeating a previously unbeaten Missouri squad at home, Northwestern is once again receiving votes in this week's Associated Press poll. It is the third-consecutive week the Wildcats have appeared in either poll.
Complete game notes can be viewed by clicking on the PDF above.
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