Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Dayton
Wildcats Outlast Flyers, 76-70, In Overtime
11/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- It took an extra session, but the Wildcats gritted out a 76-70 victory over Dayton in the season opener Friday night at the Women's Sports Foundation Challenge in Albuquerque, N.M. Freshman Amy Jaeschke (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) led the Wildcats with 19 points, despite only playing 25 minutes, while senior Sara Stutz (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) tallied 15 and sophomore Kaitlin McInerney (Oak Brook, Ill./Benet Academy) added 10.
"You never know what to expect in a season-opener, but I am so proud of our team," Head coach Beth Combs said. "To take the game into overtime and put it on the line shows me a lot about the character of our team. It was a good beginning and I am looking forward to building on this experience."
Both squads came out of the gates ready to play, shooting a combined 63 percent from the field in the first five minutes. Despite the altitude adjustment, the game took a fast-cadence, resembling a mid-season bout. The teams matched each others three-pointers, charges and steals throughout the first intense eight minutes before Northwestern strung together a 9-5 run, book-ended by two treys by junior Erin Dickerson (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young), to go ahead 26-16 with 7:44 remaining in the first half.
The Flyers came back to tie the game with 5:20 remaining and held the Wildcats to just six points the rest of the frame. Jaeschke contributed 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting. Northwestern shot an impressive 46 percent in the half, including 6-of-8 from the charity stripe. Dayton held a measly 34-32 lead at half.
The Wildcats exploded on a 12-6 run out of the break, led by six solid points by McInerney. But Dayton answered with a three-pointer by Kathy Guin, which tied the game at 40 each. Midway through the second half, Jaeschke went to block a shot by Kelly Keil when the Flyer's arm landed awkwardly on Jaeschke's hand and broke it. She is expected to be out 4-6 weeks.
The Wildcats put together a 10-3 spurt to take a 50-43 lead with 12:28 remaining. From then on out, both teams kept on each other's heels, neither squad allowing the difference to swell beyond five points.
It seemed to be a classic case of whomever had the ball on the last possession would claim the game, but Dayton's play with eight seconds remaining was thwarted by the 'Cats feisty defense. The game was notched at 66 at the end of regulation.
Four points by Stutz and a timely lay up by freshman Savannah Stedman (Ortonville, Mich./Brandon)--her only bucket of the game--gave Northwestern the momentum it needed to seal the victory.
The Wildcats shot an impressive 45 percent from the field, including 40 percent from beyond the arc (4-of-10), and snatched 12 steals on the night.
Senior Nadia Bibbs (Chicago, Ill./Hillcrest/Boston College) and McInerney led the Wildcats on the glass, pulling down eight rebounds each. Ellen Jaeschke (Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove/Air Force Academy) swatted an NU-high four blocks.
The Wildcats resume play tomorrow when they face Western Michigan in the first game of day two of the WSF Classic. Tip is set for 7 p.m. CT.
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