Dec. 26, 2011
Northwestern (10-2, 0-0) vs. Toledo (4-3, 0-0)
Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011
Welsh-Ryan Arena (8,117)
Evanston, Ill. 6 p.m.
Streaming Video: NUsports Stream
Gametracker: NUsports.com
In-game Twitter updates: @NU_SportsLIVE
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Following a 2-1 performance at the BTI Invitational in Las Vegas, Northwestern returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena for a 6 p.m. Tuesday bout with Toledo. After playing three games in three days, the Wildcats received a much-deserved five-day break for the holiday.
Tuesday is Northwestern's final nonconference contest of the season and with a victory, would mark the third-consecutive season in which NU has finished the nonconference portion with just two losses. The Wildcats were 12-2 in 2009-10 and 13-2 in 2010-11. The 'Cats open Big Ten play at 6 p.m. on Dec. 30 at Iowa. Please note that is a time change from the originally announced 7 p.m. tip due to Iowa's participation in the Insight Bowl.
Last Time Out...
Kendall Hackney turned in another outstanding effort, posting 27 points and seven rebounds as Northwestern defeated North Dakota State in the final game of the BTI Invitational in Las Vegas. Morgan Jones and Karly Roser joined Hackney in double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively. For her efforts throughout the Tournament, Hackney was named the MVP.
Opponent profile
Toledo Rockets
2011-12 Record: 4-3
Series History: Northwestern, 2-0
Last Meeting: Dec. 22, 2010; Northwestern, 70-60, Welsh-Ryan Arena
Winning Ways
This year's senior class of Allison Mocchi and Brittany Orban are the winningest group of Wildcats since 1996-97. The two have been an integral part of the Wildcats' renaissance, posting 54 victories since the 2008-09 season. Over the past three seasons (including the current year), head coach Joe McKeown has guided the Wildcats to a combined 47 victories.
Wildcats Shot Out To Best Start Under McKeown
With its 79-49 victory over UNLV on Dec. 18, Northwestern improved to 9-1 on the year; its best record through 10 games in Joe McKeown's tenure. In the two previous seasons, the Wildcats were 8-2 through the opening 10 games. The last time NU went 9-1 to open the season was in the 1995-96 season. The Wildcats dropped the next game to Kansas State, 64-45.
Hello, Kendall Hackney
Junior Kendall Hackney has scored 20 or more points in five of NU's last six games, including a career-high 29 points in the Wildcats' win over Morgan State on 12/14. Hackney leads the team with 17.8 ppg.
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 four of the first six weeks of the season. Jones won it on back-to-back weeks (Nov. 28/Dec. 5) and the week of Dec. 19 while Roser made the list first, garnering it on Nov. 21.
Complete game notes will be forthcoming.
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