| rv/No. 25 Northwestern (12-1, 2-0 B1G) at Ohio State (9-5, 1-1 B1G) |
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| Date | Sunday, Jan. 4 | 3:00 p.m. CST |
| Location | Value City Arena | Columbus, Ohio |
| Watch Live | Big Ten Network and BTN2GO |
| Listen Live | WNUR |
| Live Stats | GameTracker |
| Social Media | @nuwbball  | Northwestern Women's Basketball  | @NUCATS_WBB  |
| Game Notes (PDF) |
Northwestern | Ohio State |
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Following a brief stop home on New Year's Day, Northwestern is back on the road this weekend to battle the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio Sunday. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. CST and the game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.
HISTORICAL POLL PRESENCE
For the first time in program history, Northwestern is ranked in this week's USA Today top 25 coaches poll, checking in at No. 25. Dating back to 2009-10, the Wildcats have received votes 15 times in past seasons, including four this year. In the Associated Press poll, NU is the top team among others receiving votes this week, even though it has beaten both No. 24 Michigan State and No. 25 DePaul on the road this year. Northwestern was last ranked in the AP poll on Jan. 29, 1996 at No. 23. The highest AP ranking in program history came on Dec. 10, 1990 (6), and the 'Cats have appeared in the final poll twice. Northwestern was ranked No. 13 to conclude the 1989-90 campaign and No. 22 at the end of the 1990-91 season.
MCKEOWN MEETS ANOTHER MILESTONE
With a 72-54 victory over Kent State, his alma mater, on Nov. 21, Northwestern head coach Joe McKeown recorded the 600th victory of his storied coaching career. On New Year's Day, McKeown notched his 100th win at the helm for the Wildcats with a 68-46 win over Wisconsin. Now in his seventh season at NU, the head coach is already second in program history in wins behind Don Perrelli, who won 251 games from 1984-99. Prior to coming to NU, McKeown won 441 games, including 19 in the NCAA Tournament from 1989-2008 at George Washington. His first head coaching gig came at New Mexico State, where he won 68 games in three seasons.
BRIGHT BEGINNING TO BIG TEN PLAY
By defeating No. 20/22 Michigan State, 61-57, on Sunday, Northwestern won its Big Ten opener for only the second time in the Joe McKeown era (since 2008-09). The Wildcats also defeated Michigan, 63-59, on Dec. 28, 2009 during McKeown's second season at the helm. Sunday's game also marked the seventh straight season that the 'Cats opened conference play on the road and the third straight season against a ranked opponent (No. 18/15 Nebraska in 2013-14; No. 9/9 Penn State in 2012-13). After knocking down Wisconsin on New Year's Day, NU is 2-0 at the start of conference play for the first time since 1995-96. That season the 'Cats knocked off Illinois and Minnesota to begin the B1G slate en route to winning five in a row to open the Big Ten slate.
START FAST, FINISH STRONG
Northwestern has won 12 of its first 13 games, in large part, by jumping ahead early. The Wildcats have scored 480 first-half points this season, an average of 36.9 per game. On the other side, opponents are averaging just 22.8 points during the first 20 minutes this season, while turning the ball over 12.5 times during the first period alone. Five times this season the opposition has committed at least 15 turnovers in the first half, including last time out against Wisconsin (17).
'CATS ON CAMERA
Sunday's game is one of three contests currently slated to be televised live on the Big Ten Network. Lisa Byington and Katie Smith will be on the call. Northwestern's next BTN appearance comes when the Michigan Wolverines visit Welsh-Ryan Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 5 p.m. NU's tilt in Ann Arbor on Valentine's Day will also appear on the network, while the season finale vs. Maryland on March 1 may be added to the television schedule at a later date. To find BTN in your area, please click here.
BALANCE IS BEST
While sophomore Nia Coffey leads the Wildcats and ranks seventh in the Big Ten in scoring, the team has used a balanced scoring punch this season. All five starters are netting at least 7.9 points per game this year and Northwestern's third-leading scorer, Lauren Douglas, is averaging 11.2 points per game in only 21.2 minutes off the bench. Three times this season, including last time out against Wisconsin, five players have scored in double figures for Northwestern (also at DePaul and vs. Kent State).
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
Overall Record: 9-5, 1-1 Big Ten
All-Time Series Record: OSU leads, 41-17
Notable: Ohio State is finishing a stretch when it plays four consecutive ranked teams, including the Wildcats. The Buckeyes pulverized No. 18 West Virginia, 96-54, on Dec. 22, before falling at No. 9 Maryland in the Big Ten opener on Dec. 30. OSU rebounded with another double-digit win Thursday, downing No. 16 Rutgers in Columbus, 85-68. The high-scoring Buckeyes are averaging more than 80 points per game this season with Kelsey Mitchell (25.9 ppg) and Ameryst Alston (21.9 ppg) ranking first and second, respectively, in the Big Ten in scoring.
BUZZER BEATERS
Nia Coffey has scored in double figures in 18 straight games dating back to March 2, 2014 at Wisconsin. That marks the ninth longest such streak in program history ... Maggie Lyon has made at least one 3-pointer during the same span. The junior is the team's active leading scorer with 918 points.
UP NEXT
Northwestern has a bye during the week as classes resume Monday in Evanston. The Wildcats will be back on the floor on Sunday, Jan. 11 when they host the No. 24/rv Michigan State Spartans at Welsh-Ryan Arena at 2 p.m. NU won the first meeting between the two teams this season in East Lansing, 61-57, on Dec. 28.
More notes and information are available for both teams in the Game Notes PDF packages linked at the top of the page.
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