Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Indiana
Wildcats Stymie Hoosiers on Senior Night, 50-46
2/20/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 20, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - On Senior Night at Welsh-Ryan Arena Thursday, Northwestern's veterans delivered early and late as the Wildcats (8-17, 3-11 Big Ten) used tenacious defense and timely free-throw shooting to upend Indiana, 50-46, in women's basketball action.
"I'm so proud for this team," NU head coach June Olkowski said. "We started the game well and we ended it well. It's a pleasure to send the seniors off the winners that they are."
Seniors Leslie Dolland (Bloomington, Minn./The Blake School) and Nicole Daniels (White Plains, N.Y./White Plains) sparked the 'Cats out of the gate, scoring NU's first seven points. And classmate Natalie Will (Nappanee, Ind./Northwood) helped seal the victory, knocking down a three-pointer with 2:03 remaining.
"Leslie played a great game. She was the enforcer inside," Olkowski said. "Natalie came in and hit a big three at the end, and she played great defense."
Will's trey-her only field goal of the night-gave NU its biggest lead of the game, 49-39. The Hoosiers (11-12, 4-9 Big Ten) responded with a 7-0 run, but NU clamped down from there.
Sophomore forward Suzanne Morrison (Franklin, Mich./Detroit Country Day) led NU for the third straight game, tallying 13 points and four assists in 25 minutes. Dolland added eight points, her highest Big Ten output of the season, while fellow center Sarah Kwasinski (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick) chipped in eight as well. Kwasinski also notched a season-high six blocks, and earned game-high honors with 12 rebounds.
The teams played tight in the first half, with the lead changing hands seven times. But NU held the Hoosiers without a field goal for the last 5:30 of the first half. A pair of Dolland free throws with less than one second left gave NU a 25-24 lead going into the break.
NU continued its tough defense coming out of the locker room, as IU couldn't manage a field goal for the first 5:26 of the second half. For the game, the 'Cats held the Hoosiers to just 25.9 percent shooting from the floor.
With three Big Ten victories, NU has matched its single-season high under Olkowski. The 'Cats try to better that mark next Thursday when they travel to Champaign, Ill. to take on Illinois. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
Northwestern Head Coach June Olkowski
Opening statement
"I'm so proud for this team. We started the game well and we ended it well. It's a pleasure to send the seniors off the winners that they are."
On the contributions of Leslie Dolland and Natalie Will
"Leslie played a great game. She was the enforcer inside. Natalie came in and hit a big three at the end, and she came in and played great defense."
On the post play
"We really try to get it into the post players. Sarah (Kwasinski) struggled a little bit, but she stayed with it. She altered a lot of shots and rebounded the heck out of the ball."
On the recent success of the team
"We have been playing good basketball, but this is how we envisioned playing from the beginning. It wasn't pretty tonight, but we defended and rebounded well."
On staving off IU's late run that cut the deficit to three points
"We calmed ourselves. We knew we had another timeout. I put Emily (Butler) in to help handle the ball, and I think that helped. You have to have composure. It is a slow process, but we're learning how to win."
Northwestern Game Notes
Northwestern last defeated Indiana (79-68) on 2/19/99.
NU is now 7-2 when leading at halftime this season. NU has led at the half the last three games (2-1). NU led Indiana at the half (30-23) in their first meeting this year but fell to the Hoosiers 62-52.
NU is now 11-0 under June Olkowski when holding opponents under 50 points.
NU had 18 assists on 19 made field goals against Indiana. They have recorded assists on 39 of their last 40 field goals over the last two games.
Sarah Kwasinski had a season-high 6 blocks, just one shy of her own NU record (7 vs. Illinois, 1/20/03). She now has 103 in her career, three shy of second place on the career blocked shots list. Christina Braden (1992-96) has the second most with 106.
Kwasinski reached double-digit rebounds (12) for sixth time this year and eleventh time in her career.
Suzanne Morrison led NU in scoring for the third straight game (13) and reached double figures for the eighth time in her career.
