| 2014 ACC/Big Ten Challenge (rv/rv) Northwestern (5-0) at Virginia Tech (4-3) |
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| Date | Thursday, Dec. 4 | 6:00 p.m. CT |
| Location | Cassell Coliseum | Blacksburg, Va. |
| Watch Live | HokiesXtra |
| Live Stats | HokieSports.com |
| Social Media | @nuwbball  | Facebook  | @NUWILDCATS_WBB  |
| Game Notes (PDF) |
Northwestern | Virginia Tech |
 WATCH: |
Coach McKeown Interview | M. Lyon Interview |
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern will leave the Land of Lincoln for the first time all season this week when it travels to Blacksburg, Va. to play the Virginia Tech Hokies as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Thursday, Dec. 4. It will be only the third meeting all-time between the Wildcats and Hokies and the first since 1986.
WILDCATS STUN NO. 18/18 DEPAUL IN DOUBLE OVERTIME
Northwestern made a short trip south of approximately 10 miles Saturday evening to take on the nationally-ranked DePaul Blue Demons at McGrath-Phillips Arena in Lincoln Park. The highly entertaining game featured 188 combined points, 23 lead changes and 13 ties, and in the end, the Wildcats were left standing following a 97-91 double-overtime victory.
The Wildcats had a slim two-point lead, 38-36, at the half, but DePaul outscored NU 37-35 in the final 20 minutes of regulation. Both teams scored nine points in the first overtime session before Northwestern scored 15 points in the final five minutes to secure their fifth win of the season.
NU was able to overcome a turnover margin of -11 by outrebounding the Blue Demons, 54-46, and by shooting 52.8 percent from the floor while limiting the home team to a mark of 37.9 percent. Two players exceeded 20 points for Northwestern with Nia Coffey and Maggie Lyon both netting season highs with 23 and 22, respectively. Two more Wildcats - Ashley Deary and Lauren Douglas - also poured in season highs with 19 and 15 points, respectively. Deary, the nation's leader in steals, collected three thefts and Douglas matched a career high by securing 10 rebounds for the 'Cats.
COFFEY CLAIMS BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Sophomore Nia Coffey was named the Big Ten Player of the Week for the second time in her blossoming career on Monday, Dec. 1. The forward averaged 18.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks as she helped the Wildcats knock off crosstown foes UIC and No. 18/18 DePaul. After matching a career high with five blocks against the Flames on Nov. 26, Coffey turned in a spectacular effort to help Northwestern topple the Blue Demons. The Preseason All-Big Ten selection poured in a season-high 23 points, ripped down a season-high 17 rebounds and blocked four shots to help NU secure the win on Nov. 29. This is Coffey's second career B1G Player of the Week recognition.
ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE BREAKDOWN
Northwestern dropped its first four ACC/Big Ten Challenge contests from 2007-10, but since then has won two of the last three. Four of the seven games have been decided by four points or less, including NU's last victory, which was a 67-63 triumph at Boston College on Nov. 28, 2012. Heading into this week's tilt at Virginia Tech the Wildcats have also faced Clemson and NC State twice each and BC, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest one time apiece.
DOUBLE OVERTIME DELIGHT
The Wildcats played in - and won - their first double overtime game under head coach Joe McKeown at No. 18/18 DePaul on Nov. 29. Northwestern is 3-2 all-time in OT games under McKeown with a three-game winning streak dating back to Feb. 18, 2010 at Indiana (also at Illinois on Jan. 9, 2011 and at Wisconsin on March 2, 2014). Saturday's tilt against the Blue Demons was Northwestern's longest game since a 78-77 triple-overtime triumph against UIC on Dec. 18, 2003.
REJECTION SPECIALISTS
One year after setting the Big Ten single-season record and finishing third in the country with 6.7 blocks per game, the Wildcats find themselves among the national leaders yet again. The 'Cats lead the conference and rank fourth in the NCAA with 7.0 blocks per game this season. The team has amassed at least eight blocks in its last three games, including a season-high 12 in a 21-point win over UIC on Nov. 26. From an individual standpoint, Nia Coffey ranks fourth in the B1G with 2.4 bpg, while Lauren Douglas ranks fifth with 2.0. Senior Alex Cohen, NU's active all-time leader with 121 rejections, is averaging 1.7 per game this year.
SCOUTING VIRGINIA TECH
Overall Record: 4-3
All-Time Series Record: Tied, 1-1
Notable: The Hokies enter the ACC/Big Ten Challenge with four wins this season under the direction of fourth-year head coach Dennis Wolff. Virginia Tech is paced in the scoring column by freshman guard Rachel Camp, who comes in averaging 16.3 points per game. Another freshman, Swedish import Regan Magarity, is averaging a double-double behind 14.0 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Magarity has missed the last two games for VT, however. Sophomore guard Vanessa Panousis is the only player to start all seven games for the Hokies. She is averaging 11 points and a team-high 3.9 assists per game.
For more notes and information about Northwestern and Virginia Tech, please check out the Game Notes section at the top of the page.
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