Northwestern University Athletics
Women's Hoops Battles Michigan on Sunday
2/8/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 8, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Michigan Game Notes in PDF Format
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Date/Time: Sunday, Feb. 9, 2003/2 p.m.
Site: Evanston, Ill./Northwestern University
Arena/Capacity: Welsh-Ryan Arena/8,117
Series: vs. Michigan-NU leads 29-17
Radio/TV: WNUR 89.3 FM/ECTV (Evanston)
Internet: www.wnur.org (sports page)
Today's Game
Northwestern had a tough week. The Wildcats played two top-15 teams on the road and in two of the toughest places to play in the Big Ten. Losses at then-No. 15 Minnesota (67-56) and No. 10 Purdue (74-56) can leave a bad taste in any team's mouth. But despite the outcomes, improvements were made at both ends of the floor.
Last Sunday against Minnesota, NU trailed by four at the half (37-33). On Thursday against Purdue, NU led most of the first half only to be down one at the break (33-32). Against the Gophers, NU got as close as three with six minutes to go, but couldn't get any closer, holding the No. 2-ranked offense in the country 17 points below its average. On Sunday in West Lafayette, Purdue opened the second half with a 14-0 run and never looked back, even though NU got as close as 10 with six minutes to play.
While NU takes only moral victories away from the last two games, improvements on the offensive end are quite evident. In the last two games, NU is 15-for-30 (.500) from behind the arc and 43-for-94 (.457) overall. That is a major improvement compared to a .294 season three-point percentage and a .408 overall field-goal percentage.
Another contributing factor to the improvement of the offense is NU's assist-to-basket ratio. The Wildcats have recorded 36 assists in the last two games, and 43 baskets. That means NU recorded an assist on 84 percent of their made baskets against Minnesota and Purdue.
