Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Northern Illinois
Women's Basketball Loses Season Opener, 68-63
11/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern's women's basketball team opened its 2001-02 season with a 68-63 loss to in-state rival Northern Illinois. The Huskies outscored NU 12-4 in the final four minutes 18 seconds to come away with the win.
NU began quickly, as junior Natalie Will (Nappanee, Ind./Northwood) drained a three-pointer to start a 12-2 run. But the Huskies would not go quietly, coming right back to tie the game at 13-13. The rest of the first half went back-and-forth as both teams traded baskets until the final two minutes.
Down 31-30 with 1:54 to go in the half, the Wildcats scored the final five points to take a 35-31 halftime advantage into the locker room. Junior Emily Butler (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove), who was the only player to score in double digits in the first half (11), finished with a game-high 18. She also had five steals.
The rest of the game was a see-saw affair as neither team could distance itself from the other. Finally, with 4:18 remaining in regulation, NIU went on a 12-2 run, which decided the outcome.
NU had its chances late, but missed three open three-point attempts.
Chicago native Sarah Kwasinski (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick), playing in her first collegiate game, finished with 13 points and four rebounds. In all, three true freshman saw considerable playing time. One of those freshmen, Melissa Culver (Littleton, Colo./Heritage), totaled five assists and four rebounds in her 19 minutes on the floor.
NU is next in action when they travel to Miami, Fla., to take on the Hurricanes and compete in the Florida International Invitational Tournament, hosted by Florida International. Tip time for the Miami game is 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 21. The tournament games take place on Friday and Saturday.
