Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Penn State
Women's Basketball Loses to Penn State, 84-49
1/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 25, 2002
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - For the eighth time this season, freshman Sarah Kwasinski (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick) led the Northwestern women's basketball team in scoring, hitting 8-of-12 shots for 18 points. But it was not enough, as NU fell to Penn State, 84-49, Thursday night at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center. The Wildcats fell to 4-15 overall, 0-8 in the Big Ten.
Kwasinski continued to prove herself as one of the conference's premier shot blockers, swatting two attempts and moving up one spot to fourth on NU's single-season block list. Her 37 blocks this season ties her with former NU great Anuche Brown's 1984-85 effort. Brown also owns the No.2 and No. 3 spots on the record list with 55 blocks during the 1983-84 season and 48 in 1982-83.
In the game, Kwasinski won the opening tip to junior Leslie Dolland (Bloomington, Minn./The Blake School) who hit a streaking Melissa Culver (Littleton, Colo./Heritage) for an easy layup. The 'Cats followed up with two more easy buckets, taking a 6-2 advantage which led to a Lion timeout. Following the stop in play, the Lions regrouped and went on a 13-2 run for a 15-8 lead. The two teams traded baskets before NU went on a 10-3 run of their own and tied the score at 22.
NU would get no closer as the Lady Lions closed out the half on a decisive 20-6 run. Penn State led 42-28 at halftime.
Following the break, Penn State picked up right where it left off, opening the second stanza with a 21-9 run in the first nine-plus minutes.
Dolland finished with 11 points, her fourth straight games in double figures.
NU is next in action when it travels to East Lansing to take on the Spartans. Game time is set for 2 p.m. (CST) Sunday, January 27.
