Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern To Host Big Ten-Leading Penn State
1/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 25, 2005
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- After facing the highest-ranked team in the Big Ten Sunday in Columbus, Northwestern returns home to host a Penn State squad which has yet to lose a Big Ten contest and is now ranked No. 22 in the nation as it sits atop the conference standings.
The game features the Wildcats' third ranked opponent in a row during a stretch that will see NU take on five consecutive teams currently ranked in the top-25 in one or both polls.
Northwestern currently has the ninth-toughest schedule in the nation as computer by the WBCA/Summerville RPI. The Wildcats' slate ranks third in the Big Ten behind the Nittany Lions (second) and Purdue (fourth).
In its last outing, NU fell to No. 3 Ohio State by 12 points, 71-59. In the game, junior Ifeoma Okonkwo (Spring, Texas/Klein Oak) scored a contest-high 20 points for her second consecutive game with 20 or more points and her third of the season. She is now averaging 12.6 points per contest, tied for the Northwestern scoring lead with senior Sarah Kwasinski (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick).
Kwasinski netted 12 points against the Buckeyes and now has scored in double-digits in 15 of the Wildcats' 20 games this season.
Senior Suzanne Morrison (Franklin, Mich./Detroit Country Day) saw her first game action since going down with a knee injury at UW-Milwaukee on Dec. 14. At the time, she was the team's leading scorer with 11.9 points per game. She grabbed one board and dished out one assist in just three minutes of play in her return.
Penn State enters Thursday's contest with a 12-6 overall record, but has won its last six games and is undefeated in the conference with a 7-0 Big Ten mark.
Tanisha Wright leads the Nittany Lions and the Big Ten with 20.2 points per game and is one of three conference finalists for the Wade Trophy, John R. Wooden Award and the Naismith Trophey.
Looking Ahead
Northwestern next takes on No. 24 Purdue at home on Jan. 30 before traveling to No. 11 Michigan State for a Feb. 3 game at the Breslin Center. The Wildcats then have a week off before returning home for contests against Iowa (Feb. 10) and Indiana (Feb. 13).
The Series
All-Time Record: Penn State leads, 21-4
Last Meeting: 64-51, Penn State (Feb. 1, 2004)
Series Streak: 12, Penn State
