Northwestern University Athletics
'Cats Face Highest Ranked Opponent Of Season Sunday
2/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 13, 2004
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EVANSTON, Ill - With Big Ten win No. 1 under its belt, Northwestern looks ahead to the final weeks of the league schedule in hopes of collecting a few more victories. Sunday's game vs. No. 5 Purdue will be a challenge--even at home--but the 'Cats want to build on the momentum gained with Thursday's win over Indiana.
Alex Mueller scored a game-high 14, including four threes, to help lead Northwestern over IU. The 48-36 win was sparked by a 32-13 run in the second to come from behind and earn the win.
Samantha McComb leads the Wildcats in scoring with 10.5 points per game. Returning to the lineup last week after a month recovering from an injury, the junior guard was low-key until Thursday's game in which she scored nine points--all in the second--and added a season-high seven rebounds.
Mueller is tops on the team in league scoring, averaging 9.5 ppg. Overall, the freshman also leads NU with 37 threes and ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 2.17 per game.
Ifeoma Okonkwo is second in overall scoring (9.5 ppg) and first in overall rebounding (6.0 rpg), while Sarah Kwasinski has come on strong in league play. The junior center is averaging 9.2 ppg while leading Northwestern in rebounding (5.8 rpg), assists (30) and blocks (22).
A Look At The Boilermakers
Purdue is 20-2 (10-1 Big Ten). The Boilermakers have won 11 in a row, most recently defeating Iowa 90-79 in Iowa City, on Feb. 10. Senior forward Shereka Wright scored a game- and season-high 34 points, while freshman Katie Gearlds added 32. The pair combined to connect on 25-of-40 field goals (.625). Senior forward Lindsey Hicks added a season-high 11 points in the victory.
Wright leads the team in scoring, at 20.4 points per game, while junior Emily Heikes leads in rebounds (6.2). Senior point guard Erika Valek is Purdue's assists and steals leader, with 4.1 and 1.9 per game.
Kristy Curry is in her fifth year as Purdue head coach. She owns a 127-29 record, and is 60-15 in the Big Ten. (Purdue Sports Information)
A Look Ahead
NU closes out the regular season with three on the road: Ohio State on Feb. 19, Minnesota on Feb. 22 and Michigan on Feb. 26.
