Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Illinois
Illini Defeat Cold-Shooting 'Cats, 68-33
2/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 17, 2005
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Junior Ifeoma Okonkwo (Spring, Texas/Klein Oak) took the opening tip and drove in for a layup just four seconds into Northwestern's tilt with Illinois Wednesday night at Assembly Hall, but the Wildcats would score only 10 more points the rest of the half en route to a 68-33 loss at the hands of Illini.
NU made just six-of-25 first half shots (24 percent) and trailed at the break by 30 points, 42-12. The Wildcats had 14 first half turnovers and 22 for the game, allowing the Illini to build a whopping 27-4 advantage in points off turnovers.
Senior Suzanne Morrison (Franklin, Mich./Detroit Country Day) finished a fast break on a quick pass from freshman Sara Stutz (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) with 6:12 left in the first period to make the score 30-12 -- the last points NU would get in the stanza.
Morrison finished with a team-best 14 points on 7-of-14 shooting.
Things did not get any easier for the Wildcats in the second period. Northwestern hit on eight-of-30 attempts after the break to finish the game 14-for-55 (25.5 percent).
The Wildcats did not hit a 3-pointer in eight attempts, snapping a string of 88 consecutive games with a made 3-ball dating back to Jan. 31, 2002.
Northwestern's 33 points are its fewest since a 70-31 loss at Purdue on Jan. 30, 2000.
Janelle Hughes led three Illini (14-10, 6-8) players in double figures with 21 points.
Freshman Melissa Miller (Bloomington, Minn./The Breck School) snagged seven boards to lead NU on the glass.
Northwestern (5-21, 2-11 Big Ten) returns to action at 1 p.m. CT Sunday at Penn State.
