Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Michigan
Women's Basketball Falls to Michigan, 74-67
2/3/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 3, 2002
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Northwestern's women's basketball team fell to Michigan by a score of 74-67 at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich., Sunday afternoon. The loss drops NU to 4-18 overall, 0-11 in the Big Ten.
The first half was an evenly matched affair, as both teams traded baskets the majority of the period. With 9:12 remaining in the first stanza, NU took its first lead of the game, 16-15. Michigan then reeled off 11 of the next 13 points to take a 26-18 lead. After trading baskets, the Wildcats were down 33-25 with just under a minute to play in the half. After head coach June Olkowski called timeout, junior Natalie Will (Nappanee, Ind./Northwood) hit a 10-foot jumper to end the half.
NU opened the second half with a 9-2 run to take a brief 36-35 lead. The teams traded baskets the next four minutes before Michigan pulled away. Over the next seven minutes, the Wolverines outscored NU 17-8 to take a 52-42 advantage with 10:29 remaining in regulation.
The two teams effectively traded baskets the rest of the way with NU coming as close as five on two different occasions.
Northwestern was led by freshman center Sarah Kwasinski (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick) who finished with a game-high 24 points, 16 in the second half. She was 12-for-21 from the floor and led all rebounders with eight caroms, five on the offensive glass. Kwasinski's 12 field goals matched her career-high for field goals in a single game.
Will and freshman Melissa Culver (Littleton, Colo./Heritage) each ended the game in double figures as well. Will had 12 points and Culver finished with 14. Culver was 4-for-6 from three-point range.
