Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Ohio St
Buckeyes Break `Cats Defense in Second Half, 63-42
1/19/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 19, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - A 6-0 Ohio State run in the final minute of the first half broke open a close game and propelled the Buckeyes to a 63-42 win over Northwestern in women's basketball action Sunday afternoon at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
The Buckeyes (13-3 overall, 4-1 Big Ten) led just 15-14 with one minute to play in the first half, but forced turnovers on two consecutive NU possessions and took a seven-point lead into the locker room.
"We controlled the tempo for the first 19 minutes," NU head coach June Olkowski said following the loss. "After that they got some transition baskets and found their hot shooter, which is what good teams do on the road."
Sophomore center Sarah Kwasinski (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick) turned in a monster game for NU (6-11 overall, 1-5 Big Ten), leading the 'Cats with 15 points and tying a career high with 15 rebounds. Kwasinski now has notched four double-doubles on the season, the second-highest total among Big Ten players.
"We've been talking to Sarah about not trying to block so many shots," Olkowski said. "You can only get two or three blocks most games, but if you stay on the ground when the shot goes up you can get a bunch of rebounds and tonight she had 15."
Buckeye guard Caity Matter poured in a game-high 23 points, including five second-half three-pointers. Matter scored eight straight OSU points midway through the second half, including a trey with 12:40 left to extend the Buckeye advantage to 39-24.
Northwestern is next in action Thursday at Michigan. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. Central.
Postgame Quotes
Ohio State Head Coach Jim Foster
Opening statement ...
"Northwestern is a very good defensive team. In the first half we didn't reverse the ball well, but in the second half we played a little better. We moved the ball better and that opened things up for us offensively."
On the late run in the first half ...
"It got us on track a little bit. It allowed is to talk at halftime about what we wanted to do and what we needed to do."
On outscoring Northwestern 42-28 in the second half ...
"We started to be a little smarter defensively. We were quicker and we got Caity Matter the ball more. She was standing still in the first half, but she got moving in the second half and we reversed the ball better."
Northwestern Head Coach June Olkowski
Opening statement ...
"We controlled the tempo in the first 19 minutes, and then the last minute of the first half we turned the ball over twice. They took advantage of that. We did a better job on the boards, but they executed and found their shooter in Caity Matter. That's what good teams do, especially on the road."
On the Buckeyes' defense ...
"They have great closing speed, and we were tentative with what we did. We're going to have to adapt to that. You can't be tentative with your decision making against a good team. You have to know that what you're doing is the right thing."
On the high turnover number ...
"When you give them transition buckets, that makes them even more dangerous. They obviously had some possessions that we didn't have because we turned the ball over."
On the overall play of Ohio State ...
"They're a good team. They have received votes in the top-25. They have a good inside-outside combination."
