| Northwestern at Chicago State |
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| Date | Friday, Nov. 14 | 7:05 p.m. |
| Location | Jones Convocation Center | Chicago, Ill. |
| Buy Season Tickets | NUsports.com |
| Social Media | @nuwbball  | Facebook  | @NUWILDCATS_WBB  |
EVANSTON, Ill -- Northwestern will open the 2014-15 regular season on the road Friday, Nov. 14 but the Wildcats won't have to travel far to do so. NU will make the short trip south to the Jones Convocation Center to take on the Chicago State Cougars at 7:05 p.m.
They're (Almost) All Back
With just two seniors on the 2013-14 squad, Northwestern returns 11 letterwinners, including all five starters, for the 2014-15 campaign. The key returnees include starters Nia Coffey (team leader in points & rebounds), Ashley Deary (team leader in assists), Christen Inman (team leader in FG%), Maggie Lyon (second on the team in scoring) and Alex Cohen (team leader in blocks). Key reserve Lauren Douglas (first player off the bench; third on the team in scoring) and 2013 All-Big Ten point guard Karly Roser also return.
Best Shot Blockers in the Big Ten
NU led the Big Ten and finished the season ranked third in the country, averaging 6.7 blocks per game. The Wildcats finished only behind NCAA leader UConn (8.1) and South Carolina (7.1). NU had 220 blocks last season, which was more than two times the amount for its opponents (102).
A trio of Wildcats ranked in the top 10 in the conference for blocks as Alex Cohen finished third with 2.2 bpg while Nia Coffey was sixth with 1.8 bpg. Lauren Douglas tied for ninth with 1.4 bpg
Northwestern made Big Ten history on March 23, breaking the conference record for blocks in a season. NU entered the game with 210 and swatted five shots to record 215 blocks in 32 games, surpassing the previous record of 211 blocks set by Michigan State in 33 games during the 2006-07 season. NU ended the season with 220 blocks, cementing its place in Big Ten history:
1. 220 - Northwestern (2013-14; 33 games)
2. 211 - Michigan State (2006-07; 33 games)
3. 206 - Michigan State (2007-08; 37 games)
- Michigan State (2009-10; 33 games)
- Illinois (2009-10; 34 games)
Staring Down 600
This year, Northwestern head coach Joe McKeown should reach a significant coaching milestone. The 28-year coaching veteran needs just three more wins to reach victory No. 600 as he currently sits at 597 wins for his career, which also included stops at George Washington and New Mexico State.
Captains Elected
Northwestern has named senior Karly Roser and juniors Maggie Lyon and Christen Johnson as the team's tri-captains for the 2014-15 season. This is Roser's second tour as a team captain, while Lyon and Johnson will fill the role for the first time.
Meet the Newbies
The Wildcats welcome three fresh faces to the roster this season. Alexis Glasgow hails from nearby Arlington Heights, Ill., and the Rolling Meadows H.S. product was a 2014 Chicago Sun-Times All-Area Team member. Glasgow led the Mustangs to back-to-back appearances in the IHSA State Championship game. Maya Jonas comes to Evanston from Whitefish Bay, Wis. Jonas was a four-time All-North Shore Conference honoree and a McDonald's All-America nominee while leading the Blue Dukes in scoring all four seasons. Lydia Rohde is from Brookfield, Wis. where she was a three-time All-Suburban Girls Basketball First Team selection at Brookfield H.S. She was a two-time team MVP and she holds records for most three-pointers made in a career, among others for the Lancers.
Wildcats Sign Talented Trio
Northwestern head coach Joe McKeown and his staff signed three talented student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday, Nov. 12 when the early signing period opened. The Wildcats will welcome Jordan Hankins (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North), Amber Jamison (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams) and Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah (Abuja, Nigeria./Rabun Gap-Nacoochee H.S. [Ga.]). Hankins and Kunaiyi-Akpanah are both nationally ranked by ESPN.com, while Jamison is one of the top players in the state of Michigan. For more detailed information on the Class of 2019, please click here.
Scouting the Cougars
The Cougars are coming off an injury-plagued three-win season under head coach Angela Jackson. Junior Layne Murphy started all 30 games in 2013-14 and averaged a team-high 34.5 minutes per game. Murphy was the team's third leading scorer behind 8.6 points per game and she led the Cougars on the glass with 7.0 rebounds per contest. Paris Williams is CSU's top returning scorer. She averaged 10.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game a year ago.
Looking Ahead
Northwestern opens its home schedule on Sunday, Nov. 16 against Hampton University. That contest will tip off at 2 p.m. The Wildcats won the only previous matchup between the two programs, a 58-45 triumph at the Marina del Rey Marriott Classic on December 29, 2003.
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