Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Wisconsin
Wildcats Down Badgers, 58-56
2/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 5, 2006
Wisconsin Box Score
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Senior Ifeoma Okonkwo (Spring, Texas/Klein Oak) scored the 1,000th point of her career and contributed 20 points, boosting Northwestern to a 58-56 win over Wisconsin Sunday afternoon in front of an enthusiastic crowd celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
"I am thrilled with the way we played today," head coach Beth Combs said. "We have talked about finding another level of play. We needed to take our game to that level and we did that today. The hustle plays and rebounding are what helped us in the end. "
Wisconsin jumped out to an early 14-4 lead, thanks to a perfect 6-for-6 shooting effort in the first four minutes. The Badgers inflated the advantage to 12 at the 12-minute mark, but the Wildcats wouldn't go away, going on a 13-10 run over the last 7:15 to cut the lead to 34-29 at the break.
Northwestern (6-16, 2-9) ran off the first seven points of the half to take a 37-34 lead three minutes into the second half. Kristin Cartwright (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) nailed a trey and A.J. Glasauer (Freiburg, Germany/Theodor-Heuss Gymnasium) hit two free throws out of halftime to tie the game at 34. Okonkwo then downed a three to give NU the lead for the first time in the game.
Okonkwo scored the 1,000th point of her career on a layup -- her 15th point of the game -- at the 17:21 mark of the second half.
Wisconsin battled back to take the lead, 47-45 with 11 minutes left. The two teams echoed eachother's baskets over the next ten minutes.
Glasauer hit a jumper in the lane with 1:20 remaining to give Northwestern a 57-54 lead. The Badgers answered with a pair of free throws by Jolene Anderson to pull the NU lead to one.
Wisconsin had a chance to score with 13.3 seconds left, but Northwestern's defense caused two whiffs and Glasauer was fouled after rebounding the miss. She hit one free throw to extend the Wildcats' lead to 58-56. Wisconsin recovered Glasauer's second missed free throw as time ran out.
The Wildcats forced 15 Badger turnovers and converted them into 17 points, while only committing 11 miscues. Northwestern remained consistent from the free-throw line, connecting on 13-of-18 free throws.
Okonkwo also contributed six rebounds and three assists and two steals. She has now posted double-digits in 13 games this season, including five games of 20 points or better. Fellow upperclassman Glasauer added 17 points, a team-high four assists and four rebounds. Cartwright added a team-high seven rebounds, six points and three assists.
Northwestern hits the road for a 7 p.m. contest at Iowa on Thursday.
