Northwestern
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Western Michigan
'Cats Fall to Western Michigan, 90-72
12/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 14, 2005
Box Score
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KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Three 'Cats hit career highs, but Western Michigan's offense proved to be too much as Northwestern fell to the Broncos, 90-72, Wednesday night at University Arena. Northwestern is now 3-5 on the season, while WMU pulls to 3-5.
Sophomore Sara Stutz (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) provided a career-high 12 rebounds and added 14 points, good for the first double-double of her career. Stutz hit 5-of-7 from the field, and 3-of-4 from three-point range, tying the Wildcat-high so far this season. She also added a team-high four assists.
Fellow sophomore Melissa Miller (Bloomington, Minn./The Breck School) recorded a team-and career-high 15 points in 24 minutes. Freshman Kristin Cartwright (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) set a career-best with 13 points. She chipped in seven rebounds, dished out three assists and snagged three steals.
"We are going to make mistakes, but we have so much potential," head coach Beth Combs said. "I'm really proud of Miller and Stutz because they played from beginning to end. Miller had a tough assignment down low, and she did a good job. Stutz played solid from start to finish. Cartwright had a good game; she's going to be a great player.
Miller scored six of NU's first eight points of the game and led the team in scoring in the first half, contributing 11 of her 15 in the first 20 minutes.
Western Michigan shot 51.7 percent from the field in the opening half, including 50 percent (4-of-8) from the three-point arc. Those four buckets were the difference in the first half, as the Broncos held a 43-31 lead at the break.
Western Michigan never surrendered its double-digit cushion down the stretch, continuing its solid shooting. The Broncos made eight three pointers and finished the game shooting 55 percent.
The Wildcat defense forced 22 Bronco turnovers, including nine steals.
Northwestern returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena for a three-game home stretch, battling St. Mary's (Calif.) at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
