Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Drake
Bulldogs Tame Wildcats, 68-35
11/24/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 24, 2002
DES MOINES, Iowa - Northwestern's women's basketball team hit the road for the first time this season, losing to Drake University 68-35 in Des Moines, Iowa. After going to the Sweet Sixteen a year ago, Drake picked up right where they left off, hitting five of its first seven shots to jump ahead 11-0. That's all Drake would need, as they never relinquished the lead winning their season opener in front of 2,279.
NU shot a dismal 20 percent (6-for-30) in the first half compared to 52 percent (14-for-27) for the Bulldogs. Five of Drake's 14 first-half made baskets were three-pointers, as they shot 40 percent (11-for-27) in the game.
NU shot just 27 percent (15-for-56) in the game, with Leslie Dolland (Bloomington, Minn./The Blake School) and Sarah Kwasinski (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick) each scoring 10 points, tops on the NU roster. Dolland scored all 10 of her points in the second half, including the first six of the second period.
With inspired play from Dolland to start the second half, the Wildcats came out and played an evenly contested match the first 12 minutes. But Drake was up for the challenge, matching NU's intensity with some long-range bombs, squashing any chance of a comeback.
Besides leading the team in points, Kwasinski also had a team-high six rebounds (three on the offensive boards) with Natalie Will (Nappanee, Ind./Northwood). Forward Kristin Ambrose (Minnetonka, Minn./The Blake School) had five rebounds and a team-high three assists.
NU is back in action when they travel to New Brunswick, N.J., for the Rutgers Coca-Cola Classic, taking on Richmond in the first round. Game time is set for 11 a.m. on Saturday Nov. 30.
