Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Michigan
Northwestern Drops 73-55 Decision To Michigan
2/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 26, 2004
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Samantha McComb scored 21 and two other Wildcats reached double figures, but that was not enough Thursday night as Northwestern dropped the last regular Big Ten game of the season to Michigan, 73-55. Despite pulling within two early in the second half, NU's fortune turned when the Wolverines went on short runs to build their lead.
"They were able to make shots in the second half and we panicked a bit," said head coach June Olkowski. "While we played well in the half and came within two, with the exception of Sam (McComb) we really couldn't take many threes. We aren't used to that, but we have to respond to those situations."
The teams battled back and forth early in the game until the Wolverines took a 11-point lead off a 8-0 run. Michigan's Jennifer Smith seemed unstoppable, accounting for 16 points in the half. Stephanie Gandy chipped in 13 for the Wolverines.
McComb scored 15 points in the first frame to keep the 'Cats (8-19, 1-15 Big Ten) in the game and shot three-of-five from beyond the arc. The junior was the only Northwestern player to sink more than one field goal in the half.
Returning from a 36-28 halftime deficit, the Wildcats held the Wolverines scoreless for over three minutes and brought it to 42-40 thanks to buckets by McComb, A.J. Glasauer and Sarah Kwasinski. But despite holding Gandy scoreless in the second, NU could not keep Smith off the scoreboard as she added 11 of her game-high 27 points.
Kwasinski scored 10 in the game and added a team-high seven boards. Alex Mueller also scored 10 for NU. The Wildcats shot 40% overall with Michigan shooting 46.2% and making 19 of 24 foul shots. Northwestern was 10-of-12 from the foul line in the contest.
The 'Cats return to action next Thursday night at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Northwestern will face the No. 6 seed (Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan State or Ohio State) in the Big Ten Tournament.
