Northwestern University Athletics
Illinois-Chicago Edges 'Cats, 58-53
11/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 22, 2002
Evanston, Ill. - Northwestern fell to Illinois-Chicago Friday night, 58-53, in the season opener for both teams at Welsh-Ryan Arena. NU (0-1) trailed by 10 at the half, and cut the Flames' lead to three in the second half, but could get no closer.
Sophomore center Sarah Kwasinski (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick) led NU in scoring for the seventh straight regular-season game, notching 16 points and eight rebounds. Kwasinski scored in double digits for the eighth straight game overall. Sophomore guard Samantha McComb (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington) had 11 points and a team-best six assists in the loss.
UIC (1-0) led by as many as 11 in the first half, before a Kristin Ambrose (Minnetonka, Minn./The Blake School) 3-pointer stemmed the tide. NU stayed within striking distance throughout the second half, holding the Flames without a field goal for the final 6:23, but UIC made 5-of-7 free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.
NU shot 45 percent from the floor, but committed 19 turnovers, which led to 22 UIC points. The 'Cats outrebounded the Flames 38-36.
Freshman forward Ifeoma Okonkwo (Spring, Texas/Klein Oak) contributed seven points and seven rebounds before fouling out of her first game in an NU uniform. Ambrose finished her NU debut with seven points in 32 minutes.
NU is next in action Sunday in Des Moines, Iowa when the 'Cats take on Drake at 2:05 p.m.
