Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Morehead St
Wildcats Upend Morehead State, 76-66
12/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 20, 2002
DENVER - Sarah Kwasinski scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead a balanced attack as the Northwestern women's basketball team defeated Morehead State, 76-66, in the opening round of the Denver Classic hosted by the University of Denver.
Northwestern will meet the host Pioneers in the final. Denver easily disposed of Princeton in the other first-round game.
The 'Cats led wire-to-wire in the evening's first game, taking a 42-26 lead advantage into the break. Northwestern (5-4) started the game on a 7-0 run and led by as many as 17 during the first stanza.
The Lady Eagles got within 52-45 on a three-pointer by Kandi Brown with 12:53 to play in the second half, but the 'Cats countered with the next four points to take a 56-45 lead on a layup by Ifeoma Okonkwo with 10:47 remaining in the half.
The two teams traded baskets for the next three minutes, but after some spirited play by both teams, Northwestern pulled away with a 65-50 lead with 5:46 to play. Morehead State (5-3) would get as close as 70-62 with 2:30, but could not overcome the 'Cats.
Northwestern shot 53 percent (27-of-51), while Morehead State was limited to 39 percent (26-of-67) including just 6-of-21 from the arc. Samantha McComb had 14 points and seniors Natalie Will and Leslie Dolland each chipped in 11 in the win.
Kwasinski's 18 points put her over the 500 mark for her career with 505 total.
Saturday's title contest is set to start at 7 p.m.
