Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Set To Host Iowa
1/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 27, 2004
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EVANSTON, Ill. - Thursday's game at home vs. Iowa will wrap up the first half of Big Ten women's basketball, and the Wildcats are hoping to end January with a win--their first of 2004. NU is 7-11 overall and 0-7 in conference play.
Playing at Wisconsin last Sunday, Northwestern struggled to hit its shots, and although the 'Cats outshot Wisconsin 38-35 in the second half, they could not rebound from a 34-15 halftime deficit. It was the first time in three games that the Wildcats had lost by more than 10.
Without big numbers from NU's group of talented rookies--Alex Mueller (7.9 ppg, 9.9 ppg Big Ten), Breanne Smilie and A.J. Glasauer--junior Melissa Culver stepped up and chipped in a team-high and season-high 17 points at the Kohl Center. Sophomore Ifeoma Okonkwo continued to put up steady numbers--12 points and a team-leading eight boards--and junior Sarah Kwasinski was the third Wildcat to put up double figures.
Junior co-captain Samantha McComb was still unable to play due to injury and senior Kristin Ambrose also did not dress. The 'Cats have been without one or more starters for 10 of their last 11 games. NU is 3-8 in that same stretch.
Northwestern fans are hoping to see another thriller similar to last Thursday's home contest vs. then-No. 20 Michigan State. The 'Cats took the ranked Spartans to overtime, only to fall by 10.
Iowa enters Thursday's contest having won their last three league games. The Hawkeyes are 4-2 in Big Ten play, recently beating Wisconsin (66-46) and Michigan (69-58). Their other Big Ten wins have come against Indiana and Illinois, while the losses were vs. Penn State and Minnesota.
The Hawkeyes are led by Jamie Cavey (16.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg), Jennie Lillis (15.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and Kristi Faulkner (14.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg). Lillis collected a game-high eight rebounds vs. Michigan on Sunday, moving her into sixth place on Iowa's career rebounding chart. She has led the Hawkeyes in boards nine times this season.
