Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Poised For Showdown With In-State Rival
3/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 1, 2005
2005 Big Ten Tournament Bracket in PDF Format
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern will play Illinois at approximately 4:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, March 3 in first-round action of the Big Ten Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. The winner will face second-seeded Michigan State in the quarterfinals on Friday.
The Wildcats (5-25, 2-14) earned the 10th seed in the tournament while Illinois (16-11, 7-9) was tabbed the seventh seed. The Illini have won both meetings this year, besting the Wildcats 73-65 in Evanston on Jan. 9 and defeating NU at Assembly Hall, 68-33 on Feb. 16.
The two teams met in the opening round of the 2001 conference tournament, with the sixth-seeded Illini advancing to the quarterfinal round with a 75-60 victory.
Series Information
Overall: NU leads, 31-21
Streak: Illinois, 11
Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament
Northwestern has won three games in the Big Ten Tournament since 1995. Last season, the Wildcats lost to Minnesota, 68-47. In 2003, NU dropped a 70-58 decision to Iowa and in 2002, the 11th-seeded Wildcats fell to Wisconsin, 60-58. In 2001, 11th-seeded Northwestern fell to Illinois, 75-60. In 2000, 10th-seeded Northwestern became only the second 10-seed to win an opening round tournament game when they defeated seventh-seeded Iowa, 68-59.
Fan Information
All-session tickets for the general public are on sale for $55 at all Ticketmaster outlets, including the Conseco Fieldhouse box office, Ticketmaster charge-by-phone numbers (317-239-5151 in central Indiana) and www.ticketmaster.com. Additionally, they can be obtained by calling the Northwestern University Ticket Office -- (847) 491-CATS. Fans should contact the Big Ten Tournament Housing Bureau at 1-800-556-INDY (4639), 1-317-684-2573, housing@indianapolis.org or www.indianasportscorp.com to reserve hotel rooms. More than 5,000 hotel rooms are in the downtown area within walking distance of the Big Ten women's tournament action.
