Northwestern University Athletics
NU Begins New Year at Home Against Wisconsin
12/31/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 31, 2004
Game Notes vs. Wisconsin in PDF Format
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern opens its home Big Ten slate in a new year, hosting Wisconsin at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 2. The 'Cats hope the ball drop signalling the arrival of 2005 will also indicate more NU shots falling through the hoop during conference play.
The Wildcats began their Big Ten schedule Dec. 30 at No. 12 Minnesota, falling to the Golden Gophers, 62-44. In the game, junior Ifeoma Okonkwo (Spring, Texas/Klein Oak) paced Northwestern with 18 points while freshman Melissa Miller (Bloomington, Minn./The Breck School) pulled down 13 rebounds--the second best total of her young collegiate career--in front of a raucous cheering section in her hometown. Senior Samantha McComb (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington) contributed 10 points for the Wildcats in the game.
Senior Sarah Kwasinski (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick), who recently went over the 1,100 career points barrier, continues to lead the 'Cats in scoring with 12.6 per game while Okonkwo is contributing 10.8 per contest. Miller ranks seventh in the Big Ten conference with 7.9 rebounds per game.
Northwestern has been experiencing some injury woes, and will be down to no more than eight players for Sunday's contest. Senior Suzanne Morrison (Franklin, Mich./Detroit Country Day)--who was NU's leading scorer at the time of her injury--continues to rehab while freshman Kelly Rae Finley (Edina, Minn./The Breck School) was put in a boot and sidelined before the Minnesota game.
Wisconsin enters Sunday's tilt with a 5-5 record and an 0-1 mark in the Big Ten. The Badgers fell to Purdue, 72-67, in their conference opener. UW has been streaky this season, winning its first two games before dropping four in a row. Prior to the Purdue loss, the Badgers reeled off another three consecutive wins.
Jolene Anderson leads Wisconsin with 18.1 points per game and is the Badgers' second-leading rebounder with 6.0 per contest. Stephanie Rich and Janese Banks are also averaging double-figures for UW. Annie Nelson's 7.7 rebounds per game is tops on the squad.
Looking Ahead
The Wildcats have two more home games during this current stand at Welsh-Ryan Arena. On Jan. 6, Michigan comes to Evanston followed by downstate rival Illinois on Jan. 9.
The Series
All-Time Record: NU leads, 27-20
Last Meeting: 69-53, Wisconsin (Jan. 25, 2004)
Series Streak: 11, Wisconsin
