Northwestern University Athletics
Women's Basketball Heads East for Thanksgiving
11/27/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 27, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. -
WBK Notes at Rutgers Coca-Cola Classic
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NORTHWESTERN (0-2) vs. Richmond (1-0)
at Rutgers Coca-Cola Classic
Date/Time: Saturday, Nov. 30-Sunday, Dec. 1, 2002
Site: New Brunswick, N.J./Rutgers University
Arena/Capacity: Louis Brown Athletic Center/8,500
Series:
vs. Richmond-First meeting
vs. Rutgers-Rutgers leads 1-0
vs. Wagner-First meeting
Radio/TV : WNUR 89.3 FM/none
Internet: www.wnur.org
Thanksgiving Special
This Thanksgiving holiday head coach June Olkowski will be especially thankful, as she returns to her alma mater for the Rutgers Coca-Cola Classic. Olkowski was a four-year starter for the Scarlet Knights from 1978-82.
"Rutgers is a place where I have a lot of fond memories," said Olkowski. "One thing that stands out is the camaraderie our team had. We were a special group that believed in one another. I think that's why we were so successful."
In April 1999, she was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. As a student-athlete for the Scarlet Knights, she starred on Theresa Grentz's team from 1978 to 1982, and led the Scarlet Knights to the AIAW National Championship her senior season. The former Kodak All-American and Wade Trophy finalist became the first woman in Rutgers University history to have her jersey retired.
"My freshman year we played in 'The Barn' and then the 'The RAC'," said Olkowski, when asked about playing in the Louis Brown Athletic Center, formally known as the Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC). It's a great basketball atmosphere."
While Coach Olkowski will feel right at home in the Louis Brown Athletic Center, it is now her job to get the players acclimated to the surroundings. NU has not played at Rutgers since the 1978-79 season-Olkowski's freshman year-when they lost 85-76. Olkowski averaged 15.5 points and 9.5 rebounds that season.
After starting the season 0-2, with losses to Illinois-Chicago (58-53) and Drake (68-35), the Wildcats seek their first win when they take on Richmond in the first round of the tournament. Sophomore Sarah Kwasinski leads the squad in both points (13.0) and rebounds (7.0) per game, while the defense is holding opponents to 63.0 points per contest.
Turkey Day Tourneys This time last year, the Wildcats were basking in the hot Florida sun at the Florida International Thanksgiving Tournament. NU is hoping for a reversal of fortunes, as they went 0-2 in Miami. NU fell 71-53 to tournament host, Florida International, in the first round and dropped a heartbreaker to Monmouth (N.J.), 58-53, in the consolation round.
Olkowski at NU vs. the BIG EAST
Since her hiring in 1999, head coach June Olkowski is 1-2 vs. the BIG EAST conference. Games include trips to Boston College and Miami (Fla.). NU also hosted the Hurricanes at home.
2001-02 L at Miami 86-69 2000-01 W Miami 56-48 1999-00 L at Boston College 86-55
Behind The Arc
In two games this year, NU has shot 37 three-pointers, compared to 25 after the first two games of 2001-02. This season, however, NU has made only six of those 37 attempts in comparison to the 10-for-25 mark last year. Fifteen of those 37 attempts have been shot by Virginia transfer Kristin Ambrose.
Home Sweet Home
Head coach June Olkowski is from South Philadelphia, roughly an hour and a half away from the Rutgers campus. Assistant coach Regina Grennan hails from Bergenfield, N.J., about 40 minutes north of New Brunswick, across the George Washington bridge. Grennan also coached at near-by St. Joe's (Pa.) for 10 years, before becoming part of the Wildcat staff.
All-Time Series vs. Richmond & Wagner
In the opening round of the Coca-Cola Classic, Northwestern women's basketball will play Richmond for the first time in the program's history. Depending on the outcome of the tourney's first two games, the Wildcats could face Wagner in the second round. Wagner and Northwestern have never played.
All-Time Series vs. Rutgers
Rutgers and Northwestern have only met one time previously. The Scarlet Knights handed the Wildcats and 85-76 loss during the 1978-79 season. It was one of only four losses NU suffered that season, on their way to a 25-4 campaign and a Central Sectional AIAW Large College Tournament Berth. NU swept through the Regional MAIAW Tournament 3-0.
Double Figures
With 10 points against Drake last Sunday, Sarah Kwasinski extended her streak of double-digit scoring games to nine, a career high. Last season, the Chicago native produced 21 double-digit games, eclipsing the 20-point mark six times.
Coaching Changes
In the offseason, Cleve Wright took a head coaching job at Gannon College in Pennsylvania and Sheila McMillen left the coaching profession. Enter NU's two new coaching assistants, Sue Darling and Regina Grennan. Following a one-year hiatus, Darling comes to Evanston after spending the previous three years as head coach at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Darling took over the Falcon program as the team and school transitioned itself from an NCAA Division II program to Division I. Grennan found her way to the Wildcat program after serving as an assistant at both Richmond University and St. Joseph's University (Pa.). After spending just one season (1990-91) with the Spiders, Grennan spent the next 10 with the Hawks in Philadelphia. In all, the pair brings almost 30 years of coaching experience to the sideline.
European Travelers
Northwestern was well-represented on last summer's Big Ten Women's Basketball Foreign Tour team. Head coach June Olkowski and assistant Tricie Johnson led the squad to a perfect 5-0 record during the 10-day trip through Holland and Belgium. Senior center Leslie Dolland and sophomore guard Melissa Culver were key contributors for the all-star team. Culver, NU's top three-point shooter a year ago, proved to be one of the All-Stars' biggest three-point threats as well. She drained three treys in the team's final game, a 96-62 win over Meetjesland in Kaprijke, Belgium. Culver finished the trip with a team-best six three-pointers. Dolland, NU's third leading rebounder in 2001-02, was tough on the glass during the tour. She grabbed nine boards against Ekeren, another Belgian club, and averaged 4.8 rebounds per game, second among the All-Stars.
Fresh Faces
NU welcomes one fresh face to the program and one semi-new fresh face. The newest member of the Wildcat clan is Ifeoma Okonkwo, who hails from Spring, Texas. Okonkwo has stepped right into the fire, averaging 18.5 minutes in the first two games. After sitting out the mandatory one year-due to NCAA transfer rules-Kristin Ambrose has hit the hardwood running, averaging 33.5 minutes per game while chipping in 6.0 points per game.
Block Party
Northwestern sophomore Sarah Kwasinski tied for the Big Ten lead with 37 blocked shots in 2001-02. This season she has two swats in NU's first two games. Those two throw-backs leave her six blocks short of sixth place on the career blocked shots list. Mya Whitmore (61, 1988-91) is currently sixth, five ahead of Kwasinski's 56.
"D" Fense
Even though NU came out on the losing end in its season opener against Illinois-Chicago, the Wildcat "D" was impressive. For the game, the Flames shot 37 percent from the floor (21-for-57) and were held without a field goal the last 6:23 of the game.
