Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Minnesota
No. 17/18 Minnesota Overcomes Wildcats, 64-61
2/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 13, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) - Corrin Von Wald scored 19 of her game-high 27 points in the second half, including a pair of free throws with 13 seconds left, as No. 17/18 Minnesota came back from an 18-point deficit to top Northwestern, 64-61, at Welsh-Ryan Arena Thursday night.
"Obviously, we are really upset about this loss," NU head coach June Olkowski said. "We did get some good looks, but we were a little tight at the end."
NU (7-17, 2-11 Big Ten) led most of the way, and used a 19-1 run midway through the first half to build a 36-24 edge at the intermission. The 'Cats lead ballooned to 50-32 with 15:28 to play after Samantha McComb (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington) knocked down her third three-pointer of the evening. But the Gophers (18-4, 7-4 Big Ten) scored 18 unanswered points to knot the game at 50.
"Minnesota made a very good run on us and we didn't respond well," Olkowski said.
The game remained close from there. A Sarah Kwasinski (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick) layup gave NU a 56-52 lead with 5:49 to go, but Minnesota came right back to tie it at 56. A Von Wald three-pointer with 3:16 left gave the Gophers their first lead of the half, 59-57. But McComb fired back with her fourth trey just 17 seconds later to put the 'Cats back on top. Minnesota's Kim Prince scored her only points of the night to give Minnesota the lead for good, 61-60, with 2:41 to play.
After Von Wald's pair of free throws put Minnesota ahead 64-61 with 13 seconds left, NU had one final try. But Kwasinski's three-point try at the buzzer fell short.
Sophomore forward Suzanne Morrison (Franklin, Mich./Detroit Country Day) led NU for the second straight game, tallying a season-high 17 points on 6-of-9 field-goal shooting. McComb finished with 15 points, while Kwasinski and guard Melissa Culver (Littleton, Colo./Heritage) chipped in 10 apiece. The four players in double figures matches a season high for NU, and marks the first time the 'Cats have accomplished the feat in a Big Ten game this season.
Morrison and Kwasinski led the 'Cats with five assists each. Amazingly, NU had assists on all 21 of its field goals.
NU wraps up its home season next Thursday at 7 p.m. when Indiana visits Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game will be the final home appearance for NU's six seniors; Emily Butler, Nicole Daniels, Leslie Dolland, Ashley Messenger, Anya Walker and Natalie Will.
Northwestern Head Coach June Olkowski
Opening statement
"Minnesota made a very good run on us and we didn't respond well. They pressed us and scored eight points in a row off of it. We did get some good looks, but we were a little tight at the end. You have to give them credit."
On the team's mindset following this loss
"Obviously, we're really upset about this loss. We feel we can beat everybody we play. We believe we can win the rest of our games."
On the second-half Minnesota run
"We had good shots, good open shots. In the second half they kicked it up a notch. Whalen and Von Wald really took over. Their defense turned into good offense."
On the difference between the first and second half
"We didn't get the looks against the zone that we had gotten against the man (defense) in the first half."
On giving up 12 offensive rebounds
"We talked about rebounding a lot. Sometimes rebounding is about pursuing the ball. Van Wald is pretty quick, and they just pursued the ball better than we did."
On the play of sophomore Suzanne Morrison
"I think she got a little fatigued, but at that point in the game I didn't want to take her out. I thought she played very well. We're going to need her presence inside."
Game Notes
NU had 21 assists to go along with its 21 field goals in the game. It is the second straight game NU has had 21 or more field goals.
Suzanne Morrison set a season high scoring 17 points, beating her previous best of 16 set against Michigan earlier in the week. Morrison also dished out five assists, a career high.
Northwestern had four players in double figures, a feat they have achieved only once this season before tonight (12/20 vs. Morehead State in a 76-66 win).
NU made a season-high nine three-pointers, beating its previous best of eight set twice this season.
Minnesota had a season-low three turnovers. In the two games versus Northwestern this season, the Gophers had a combined 10 giveaways.
