Northwestern University Athletics
Big Ten Season Opens, Wildcats Get Down To Business
1/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 2, 2004
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EVANSTON, Ill. - After an Olkowski-era record 7-4 start to the 2003-04 season, the Wildcats return home to open the Big Ten season vs. Michigan on Sunday. Game time is set for 2 p.m. CST.
Last weekend Northwestern dropped the opening game of the Loyola Marymount Marina del rey Marriott Beach Tournament to host LMU before rebounding Monday and beating Hampton in the consolation game.
Junior Melissa Culver had her strongest weekend of the season, recording 15- and 13-point games, which included three treys in the first half of the Hampton game. For her efforts, the guard was named to the all-tournament team.
Sophomore Ifeoma Okonkwo also continued her stellar play, scoring in the double digits for the seventh consecutive game. She also was NU's leading scorer in the consolation game, recording 13 of her 15 total points in the second half.
Michigan, who tied with Northwestern for 10th place in Big Ten play in 2002-03, is 7-7 overall and 0-1 in conference play heading into Sunday's game at Welsh-Ryan. The Wolverines faced Minnesota on New Year's Day, falling to the league-leading Golden Gophers by the score of 64-44. Prior to that game,Michigan had won two vs. Xavier (65-56) and Detroit (64-48).
UM is led by center Jennifer Smith, who is averaging 21.4 ppg and 7.5 rpg. Smith has accounted for 300 of Michigan's 889 points, including 16 of the team's 44 points at Minnesota on Thursday.
Tabitha Pool (13.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg) and Stephanie Gandy (11.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg) are the other Wolverines that average double-digit points.
While Michigan is at .500 overall, the Wolverines have struggled on the road with a 1-5 mark. Northwestern holds a 3-2 record in 2003 at home and are winners of five of their last seven. That mark includes two of their last three home games.
