Northwestern University Athletics
'Cats Hit the Road
2/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 18, 2005
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern travels to University Park to tangle with Penn State in a 2 p.m. match up on Sunday. Last time the two teams met, the Wildcats handed the Lady Lions their first loss in conference play, a 59-48 win at Welsh-Ryan Arena. NU is coming off a loss at Illinois while Penn State knocked-off Wisconsin, 76-43 on Thursday.
Senior Suzanne Morrison has stepped up her play over the past few games, contributing team-high's in both contests. She added 14 points, five rebounds and two steals against Illiniois, and 12 points and seven rebounds against Indiana. She is now averaging 10.0 ppg and 4.4rpg.
Last Time Out
Junior Ifeoma Okonkwo 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.
Morrison finished a fast break on a quick pass from freshman Sara Stutz 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.
Freshman Melissa Miller snagged seven boards to lead NU on the glass.
Looking Ahead
NU wraps-up the 2004-05 regular season on the road at Penn State (Feb. 20) and Wisconsin (Feb. 23) before hosting Minnesota on Feb. 27. The Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament, held at Conseco Field House in Indianapolis, Ind., begins on Thursday, March 3 and runs through Monday, March 7 (Please see page 7 for more information).
The Series
All-Time Record: Penn State leads, 21-5
Last Meeting: 59-48, Northwestern (Jan. 27, 2005)
Series Streak: 1, Northwestern
