Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Miami (Oh)
'Cats Cruise Past RedHawks, 80-51
11/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 17, 2006
Box Score
Oxford, Ohio-- Northwestern used a 51 percent shooting effort to down Miami (Ohio), 80-51, Friday evening at Millett Hall. With the victory, the Wildcats improve to 3-0 on the season, the program's best start since the 1995-96 campaign. Senior A.J. Glasauer (Freiburg, Germany/Theodor-Heuss Gymnasium) exploded for a game-high 22 points thanks to a 9-of-16 performance from the field, including 3-of-6 from three-point range.
"I'm very pleased with our effort," head coach Beth Combs said. "We did not come out with as much intensity as I would have liked, but I was pleased with how we stepped up and maintained our play. Every time Miami made a run, we were able to re-focus. This is a great start for the Northwestern Women's Basketball program and a real tribute to our team and what they did in the off-season."
Miami (Ohio) held an early 9-6 advantage, but freshman Kaitlin McInerney (Oak Brook, Ill./Benet Academy) ran off four-straight points to give the 'Cats a 10-9 lead at the 14:54 mark. From then on out, the Wildcats would not relinquish the lead. Miami (Ohio) went on a four-minute scoring drought to allow Northwestern to inflate the lead to 17-11 with 8:55 left in the first half.
Northwestern's defense held Miami (Ohio) to just 25 percent shooting from the field in the first half while out-running, out-hustling and out-shooting the RedHawks en route to a commanding 44-27 halftime lead. Glasauer scored 16 of her 22 points in the opening half, helping NU to an impressive 55 percent shooting percentage.
The Wildcats picked up right where they left off at the end of the break, running off the first 11 points of the second stanza, and boosting the lead to 30 at the 15:50 mark.
Northwestern's offense was relentless, overshadowing any mini-runs the RedHawks could muster. The 'Cats dominated down low, collecting 34 points in the paint compared to MU's 18. NU also pulled down a season-high 54 rebounds on the night.
Junior Sara Stutz (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook) joined Glasauer in double-figures, with 16 points, her third-straight double-digit performance. Stutz was 7-of-11 from the field while also pulling down a team-high eight rebounds.
Melissa Miller (Bloomington, Minn./The Breck School) and McInerney also grabbed eight boards. McInerney recorded a career-high 12 points while also contributing three blocks.
The Wildcats are next in action on November 24 when they travel to Grand Bahama Island for a 5 p.m. CT contest against Mississippi in the Junkanoo Jam.
