Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Yale
Northwestern Reaches Final After 54-44 Win Against Yale
12/6/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 6, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern got a career-high 19 points from sophomore guard Samantha McComb (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington) and knocked off Yale 54-44 in the first round of the Mildred and Roger L. White Invitational Friday at Welsh-Ryan Arena. With the win, NU improved to 2-3 on the season and increased its streak of at least one win in the invitational to 19 years.
Northwestern moves on to the championship game for the 15th straight year. However, the Wildcats are shooting for their first Mildred and Roger L. White title since 1998.
After falling behind 3-2 early, the Wildcats used an 11-3 run to jump out to a 13-5 lead and never trailed again. McComb played the entire contest, adding three rebounds and two assists to her career night. NU took a 25-17 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Bulldogs (1-5) cut the Wildcats' lead to two early in the second half, but Northwestern ran off a 19-6 run to extend its lead to 15 points. Yale made another run, cutting its deficit to six with less than a minute to play, but Northwestern ran the clock out.
Sarah Kwasinski (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick) notched her first double-double of the season, the sixth of her career, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 boards. She reached double figures in scoring for the 12th consecutive game. She has led the team in rebounds each of NU's first five games. Kwasinski also blocked two shots, moving her into sixth place on NU's all-time list.
Suzanne Morrison (Franklin, Mich./Detroit Country Day) chipped in six points and five rebounds. Natalie Will (Nappanee, Ind./Northwood) also added six points.
Yale's 44 points were the lowest scoring output by an NU opponent this season. The Wildcats held the Bulldogs to 23-percent shooting for the game (16-of-67) from the field), including 20 percent in the first half.
Northwestern faces UAB (2-3) in the title game Saturday at 8 p.m. at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Led by Michelle Smith's 15 points and 8 rebounds, the Blazers defeated Central Michigan 59-44 to advance to the championship.
