Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Illinois
Illini Best Wildcats, 77-49
1/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 28, 2007
Box Score
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Northwestern played an inspired second half, but it was not enough as Illinois bested the 'Cats, 77-49, Sunday afternoon at Assembly Hall. A.J. Glasauer (Freiburg, Germany/Theodor-Heuss Gymnasium) tallied 15 points--12 of which came in the second half--while Sara Stutz (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) scored 14.
"We picked up our intensity level in the second half," head coach Beth Combs said. "But we've got to come out and be ready to play in the first half. I thought the second half we showed more energy, a good attitude and we picked up our defensive efficiency."
After Illinois built a 12-6 lead to open the game, the 'Cats went on a 5-0 run to cut the advantage to one with 13 minutes remaining in the half. But the Illini exploded, outscoring NU 32-4 over the next 10 minutes to inflate the lead to 36-15 with 2:30 left before halftime.
Illinois held a 39-19 lead at the break.
The 'Cats' came out with a new level of intensity in the second half, nearly doubling their point total from the opening frame. Northwestern went on a 10-0 run midway through the stanza, fueled by eight-consecutive unanswered points by Glasauer, which followed four points from Stutz. NU forced four of its 12 turnovers during that span to cut the lead to 12 with 10:09 remaining in the game.
Illinois slowly re-constructed the lead over the next 10 minutes, while holding NU to just seven points during that time.
Northwestern also used a perfect 8-of-8 performance from the line to nearly outscore the Illini in the second half. The Wildcats' defense snatched the ball 10 times, the highest total in the last six games.
Glasuer scored 12 of her team-high 15 points in the second stanza.
"A.J. tried to make things happen earlier in the game, which she was able to build on later," Combs said. "That's what we need from her."
Julie Bielawski (Rogers, Ark./Rogers) and Kaitlin McInerney (Oak Brook, Ill./Benet Academy) contributed six points each, while Melissa Miller (Bloomington, Minn./The Breck School) led the 'Cats with six rebounds.
The Wildcats are next in action at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1, when they welcome Ohio State to Welsh-Ryan Arena.
