Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Ohio State
Ohio State Bests Wildcats, 77-55
1/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 13, 2008
Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. -- An 80 percent shooting effort over the first eight minutes was not enough as the Wildcats fell to 19th-ranked Ohio State 77-55 Sunday afternoon at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Freshman Amy Jaeschke (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) turned in a career-best 24 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds for the `Cats. Fellow classmate Meshia Reed (Country Club Hills, Ill./Stockbridge (Ga.)) joined Jaeschke in double figures with 11. Sunday's crowd of 1,623 was the largest paid crowd of the season.
"I'm thrilled with the way Amy played," head coach Beth Combs said. "She had a very good game all the way around and that's what we expect of her."
Neither squad could out-race the other to start the game, as the largest scoring margin through the first seven minutes was four. The `Cats turned to the Jaeschke cousins to police the paint and they responded in a big way. Ellen went a perfect 3-for-3 and Amy 5-for-5 in the first half, resulting in 16 points. Northwestern used a 12-5 run to take a commanding 22-15 lead with 8:46 remaining.
Ohio State showed why they are ranked 19th in the nation, however, and ended the first half with a 17-2 run. Chicago native Alison Jackson contributed four buckets for the Buckeyes, who led 35-30 after the first 20 minutes. A spinning Nadia Bibbs (Chicago, Ill./Hillcrest) lay-in was the only Wildcat basket in the final seven minutes of the frame.
The Buckeyes picked up right where they left off, pushing their lead to 14 in the second half. Northwestern continued to attack the basket, with Bibbs and Jenny Eckhart (Libertyville, Ill./Carmel/Syracuse) drawing fouls on several driving attempts. A floater by Reed brought the game back to within 12 points with 14:42 remaining. That was the closest the Wildcats would get the rest of the way.
Despite the deficit, the `Cats never lost their intensity. The game stayed out of Northwestern's reach, even with four Amy Jaeschke baskets in the last three minutes.
Ellen Jaeschke led Northwestern with a career-high five assists.
The `Cats are now 4-13 overall and 0-5 in the Big Ten.
Northwestern hits the court again on Thursday, Jan. 17 as it faces the Spartans of Michigan State. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
