Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Host Huskers
12/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nebraska Game Notes
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Dec. 9, 2005
EVANSTON, Ill. -- After a week off from competition due to finals, Northwestern hosts Nebraska in a 2 p.m. contest on Saturday at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Both teams enter Saturday's contest with 3-3 records, but the similarities don't stop there. The two squads mirror each other in scoring average (71.2 and 70.2), field goal percentage (43 percent and 42.8 percent), three-point field goal percentage (34 percent and 32.9 percent), free throw percentage (71.6 and 70.1) and steals per game (9.5 and 9.2). Nebraska is coming off a 93-68 win against Texas Southern at home, while the Wildcats dropped a 95-53 to St. John's in the title game of the Mildred and Roger L. White Invitational.
Last Time Out...
Freshman Julie Bielawski scored a career-high 13 points in a 95-53 loss to St. John's in the title game of the Mildred and Roger L. White Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 3. Ifeoma Okonkwo scored nine points and recorded eight rebounds and was named to the All-Tournament team. Sophomore Nadia Bibbs also chipped in nine points.
It seemed like a matter of the ball bouncing the wrong way for the Wildcats, and everything falling for St. John's.
Northwestern jumped out to an early 9-2 lead to open the game, fueled by five points from A.J. Glasauer, but St. John's battled back to take the advantage midway through the first half - a lead that they held through halftime, 38-24, and would retain for the rest of the game.
The Wildcats forced eight first-half turnovers, but the Red Storm turned it up on the offensive side, shoot 45 percent (17-of-37) from the field.
Scouting Nebraska
Nebraska will face three Big Ten teams in the nonconference season, including Northwestern. The Huskers dropped a 78-70 decision to No. 11 Minnesota on Dec.3. Michigan will welcome Nebraska to Crisler Arena on Dec. 17. Nebraska is led by freshman Kelsey Griffin, who has already etched her name in the Nebraska record books in several categories. Griffin, who became just the 17th Husker (55 performances) in history to score 30 or more points in a game with her 31-point effort against Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Nov. 27, is averaging 16.5 points and a team-leading 8.2 rebounds per game through her first six career games. Both averages would be school records, surpassing the 15.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Griffin is also on pace to threaten school records for field goals made and attempted, free throws made and attempted and field goal percentage by a freshman.
The Series
Nebraska leads the series, 2-1, though the last time the two teams took to the hardwood was 13 years ago, on Dec. 5, 1992. Nebraska won that contest, 83-71 in Evanston. Northwestern defeated the Huskers on Feb. 27, 1982 at home 89-64 at Welsh-Ryan Areana for it's lone win of the series.
Okonkwo, Glasauer Pace `Cats
Senior Ifeoma Okonkwo and junior A.J. Glasauer have paced Northwestern offensively so far this season. Okonkwo is shooting at an impressive .597 clip from the field while nearly averaging a double-double with 16.8 ppg and 9.3 rpg. She has recorded three double-doubles through the first six games of 2005-06. Meanwhile, Glasauer is also averaging 16.8 ppg and is second on the team with 24 assists. She is also shooting an impressive .438 (7-of-16) from the three-point line. For more notes and other statistics, download the game notes at the top of this release.
Bring a Book to the Game!
The Northwestern Athletic Department will be sponsoring a Holiday Book Drive over the next two weeks at the home women's and men's basketball games. Bring one book to either the women's games on Dec. 10, 17, or 22nd or to the men's game on the 14th and receive a free ticket to an upcoming home game.
Women's Games -- If you bring a book to any of the three December home games listed below, you'll get a free ticket to any home Thursday game the remainder of the season.
Dec. 10 vs. Nebraska -- 2 p.m.
Dec. 17 vs. St. Mary's -- 2 p.m.
Dec. 22 vs. DePaul -- 7 p.m.
Men's Games - 1/2 price ticket ($10) to the UIC game (Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.) and a coupon for a FREE ticket to the DePauw game (Dec. 23 at 7 p.m.).
Dec. 14 vs. UIC -- 7 p.m.
All proceeds will benefit Foster Reading Center, which is focused primarily on children in grades K-5.
