Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Gardner-Webb
Wildcats Put Away Bulldogs, 59-34
11/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 25, 2006
Box Score
Freeport, Grand Bahama Island Gardner-Webb scored the first four points of the game before Northwestern took control, putting together a 30-4 first-half run en route to a 59-34 victory in the 2006 Junkanoo Jam Freeport division. With the victory, the 'Cats claim third place.
"We did what we needed to do tonight to win," head coach Beth Combs said. "It wasn't pretty, but we came out with intensity to get it done."
Northwestern's defense held Gardner-Webb to 15 percent shooting from the field in the first half while nailing 60 percent of its looks. Kristin Cartwright (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) spearheaded NU's offense, scoring nine of her 16 points in the first half.
The 'Cats led by as many as 25 in the opening half, continuing to push the ball for a 32-16 advantage at the break. The Bulldogs' 16 points were the second-lowest total the 'Cats have allowed this season.
If there were any chance of Gardner-Webb taking a lesson from the 'Cats comeback the night before, Northwestern quickly dashed its hopes. NU went on an 8-2 run to open the second half, pushing the lead to 40-18 with a little under 15 minutes remaining in the contest.
The Wildcats' defense was relentless, containing Gardner-Webb's offense to just one basket at the 11:31 mark. The Bulldogs' 34 points was the Wildcats' lowest opponent total of the season.
Northwestern dominated down low, grabbing 43 rebounds to the Bulldogs' 36 while also scoring 22 points in the paint. Every Wildcat contributed in some way, etching their names in the scorebook through rebounds or points.
Sara Stutz (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) recorded her fifth-consecutive double-digit performance, scoring 10 points. Fellow junior Melissa Miller (Bloomington, Minn./The Breck School) nearly grabbed a double-double, scoring eight points while grabbing a game-high nine rebounds.
Freshman Kaitlin McInerney (Oak Brook, Ill./Benet Academy) chipped in eight points on 4-of-6 shooting and pulled down five rebounds. Point guard Beth Marshall (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) contributed a career-high six rebounds.
Stutz was named to the All-Tournament team.
The Wildcats are next in action at 7 p.m. on Nov. 29 when they welcome intra-city rival Illinois-Chicago to Welsh-Ryan Arena.
