Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Wisconsin
Badgers Bounce 'Cats, 66-49
1/30/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 30, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - Wisconsin forward Ebba Gebisa scored a career-high 20 points as Wisconsin topped Northwestern 66-49 in Big Ten women's basketball Thursday at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Down 46-33 with 10 minutes left to play, NU (6-14, 1-8 Big Ten) used a 10-4 run to pull within seven, 50-43. On the ensuing Wisconsin (5-14, 3-5 Big Ten) possession, Badger forward Kristi Seeger converted a jumper as the shot clock expired, turning the momentum back in Wisconsin's favor. The Badgers then put the game away by scoring the game's next six points-four off of NU turnovers.
"If we can get that kind of effort for 40 minutes and that sense of focus, we can be a good team," Northwestern head coach June Olkowski said of her team's second-half surge.
After Gebisa opened the game's scoring with the first of her two consecutive three-pointers, Wildcat guard Samantha McComb (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington) provided the offensive spark for NU. McComb, who finished with a team-high 14, scored nine of her team's first 12 points. A McComb three-pointer with 15:46 to play in the opening half gave the 'Cats an 8-6 lead. But NU would score just three field goals in the next 13 minutes as Wisconsin built a 34-18 halftime lead.
Sophomore center Sarah Kwasinski (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick) joined McComb in double figures, netting 11 points, including 5-of-6 free throws. Freshman forward Ifeoma Okonkwo (Spring, Texas/Klein Oak) finished with six points on 2-of-2 field goal shooting to go along with team-bests of five rebounds and three assists.
Northwestern's next action is set for 2 p.m. Sunday, as the 'Cats travel to Minneapolis to take on Minnesota.
Northwestern head coach June Olkowski
On Wisconsin's string of offensive rebounds late in the second half:
"On defense, you're only as good as your rebounding, and those were certainly huge check-outs."
On NU's second half effort:
"If we can get that kind of effort for 40 minutes and keep our sense of focus, we can be a good team."
On Melissa Culver's increased playing time:
"She was playing well and we need offense. She was getting open shots and we need someone to knock them down."
Wisconsin head coach Jane Albright
On withstanding NU's second-half run:
"We really kept our composure ... and showed gradual improvement not just in rebounding or defensively but mentally as well."
On Ebba Gebisa's big game:
"I see Ebba practice every day, and she works hard on her shooting and it was nice to see her have a complete game."
On the overall team effort:
"We played with a lot of energy. We really look revived, we looked very tired (last game)."
