Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Illinois
Illinois Outlasts Wildcats, 58-44
12/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 27, 2007
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern hung tough for most of the game, but in the end, Illinois proved to be too much, downing the Wildcats 58-44 Thursday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Freshman Amy Jaeschke (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) led the way for the Wildcats, recording the first double-double of her career with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Nadia Bibbs (Chicago, Ill./Hillcrest) joined Jaeschke in double-figures with 10 points as well.
"It's a 40-minute game and we only played for 30," head coach Beth Combs said. "Illinois didn't quit and we did. It's as simple as that."
It turned out to be a tale of two halves for Northwestern as it came out strong in the first frame only to see the Illini control the second. The Wildcats led by as many as eight on two occasions during the first half and never surrendered the lead after the 13:48 mark. NU held a four-point advantage, 28-24, at the break.
Jaeschke scored eight of her 10 points in the first half and added seven boards. Bibbs poured in all of her 10 points in the opening stanza. Northwestern outscored Illinois in the paint and held the advantage in second-chance points as well.
It was a different story in the second half, however, as the Illini scored 34 points to the 'Cats' 16. Illinois slowly built a 10 point lead by the 6:15 mark and refused to let Northwestern make a final push.
Jaeschke's 10 rebounds was a career high.
The Wildcats are next in action on Monday, December 31, when they host Indiana in a 2 p.m. showdown. The game will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.
