Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Northern Ill
Women's Basketball Opens Season With Win
11/19/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 19, 1999
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern women's basketball team began the June Olkowski era with a 68-57 victory over Northern Illinois at Welsh-Ryan Arena Friday night. The Cats scored the first basket of the game and never looked back leading by as many as 23 points.
Tami Sears (Libertyville, Ill.) was NU's leading scorer in a game plagued by fouls (48) and turnovers (39). Sears was 7-of-9 from the field and 1-of-1 from the line for 15 points. She also grabbed four rebounds.
Dana Leonard (Glenview, Ill.) also shined for the Wildcats with 13 points, shooting 5-of-9 from the field and 2-of-3 from behind the arc. She hit 1-of-4 from the charity stripe. Freshman Natalie Will (Nappanee, Ind.) made a good first impression with nine points and two rebounds in her collegiate debut. Accuracy was Will's way as she hit 2-of-2 from the field and sunk 5-of-6 free throws.
Leah Berki (Willowbrook, Ill.) also scored nine for the Wildcats and Clarissa Flores (Chicago) added seven. Leslie Dolland (Bloomington, Minn.) came off the bench to lead the team with seven boards and chipped in two points.
The Northern Illinois attack was led by Michelle Johnson who tallied 15 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. Kelli Ryan had a team-high 17 points and grabbed five rebounds.
The Wildcats held the Huskies to .214 shooting as they went 6-of-28 from the field and 0-of-3 from three-point land. In the second half NIU improved to 14-of-25 (.560) from the field and 2-of-3 from behind the arc. For the game NIU shot .377 (20-of-53).
