Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Mississippi
'Cats Claw Back; Fall to Mississippi, 61-58
11/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 24, 2006
Gardner-Webb Game Notes
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Box Score
Freeport, Grand Bahama -- Oh, what a difference a half makes. Northwestern held Mississippi to a season-low 61 points including only 24 in the second half, but all the heart, intensity and hustle could not bring the 'Cats a victory, as Ole Miss edged NU, 61-58, Friday evening at St. George High School in Freeport. Freshman Kaitlin McInerney (Oak Brook, Ill./Benet Academy) turned in the best game of her young career, joining junior Sara Stutz (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) with a game-high 16 points.
"If we play like we played for the second 20 minutes, we have a championship team on our hands," head coach Beth Combs said. "That was the best half of basketball I have ever seen from our team. I am so proud of their character to come back. It was an unbelievable half of basketball. I'm excited to play tomorrow and come out of here 1-1 and with a third-place finish."
After falling behind by as many as 21 points in the first half, Northwestern came out of the break with renewed determination and caught Ole Miss on cruise control. The 'Cats went on an 11-4 run in the first six minutes to cut the lead to 45-29, thanks in part to five morale-boosting points by Kristin Cartwright (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest). Northwestern used a 50 percent second-half field-goal percentage effort to stage one of the most exciting comebacks in recent program history.
Northwestern's scrappy defense smothered the Bulldogs' otherwise potent offense, holding Mississippi to just 16 points in the remaining 14 minutes of the game. In the meantime, the Wildcats put together 27 points thanks to outstanding efforts by Stutz, Cartwright and McInerney.
The Wildcats cut the lead to six at the 7:48 mark on a three-pointer by Cartwright. The two teams exchanged baskets before NU went on an 8-4 run to pull the score to 59-58 with 1:27 left in the game. A jumper by the Bulldogs' Ashley Awkward with a minute left gave the Rebels a 3-point advantage. After exchanging scoreless possessions and the 'Cats forcing a turnover, Northwestern called a timeout with nine seconds left to set up a play.
After A.J. Glasauer (Freiburg, Germany/Theodor-Heuss Gymnasium) in-bounded the ball to Nadia Bibbs (Chicago, Ill./Boston College), two Wildcats set low-post screens, which allowed Glasauer to pop out for a wide-open three pointer. Glasauer's attempt looked as if it were down before rattling around and out.
"I'll take A.J. with that shot again and again," Combs said. "You couldn't ask to be in better position than that."
Northwestern played nearly the entire game in foul trouble, being whistled for 21 fouls, including 13 in the first half. Mississippi was penalized for four fouls in the opening stanza. Four Wildcats finished with four fouls apiece.
Stutz was 6-of-11 from the field, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc, and scored 13 of her 16 points in the second half. The Glenview native also added three rebounds and two assists in just 24 minutes.
Bibbs pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds and six assists, both of which were game-highs. McInereney grabbed nine boards to compliment her 6-of-9 effort from the field.
Glasauer recorded five assists to accompany her 11 points.
The Wildcats are next in action tomorrow at 5 p.m. CT when it takes on Gardner-Webb for third place in the Freeport Division. For more information, please see the PDF at the top of this release.
