Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Battle Michigan State Thursday Evening
1/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 16, 2008
Watch the game live on NUSports.com
EVANSTON, Ill. --Northwestern welcomes Michigan State to Welsh-Ryan Arena for a 7 p.m. tip Thursday. Both squads are looking to rebound from losses as Northwestern fell 77-55 to No. 19 Ohio State on Sunday, while Michigan State was upset by rival Michigan 64-55 in Ann Arbor. Following Thursday's game with the Spartans, Northwestern travels to Purdue on Sunday before heading to Wisconsin on Jan. 27. The game against the Badgers will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.
Freshmen Meshia Reed and Amy Jaeschke have been the team's leading scorers since Big Ten play began and Sunday was no different. Jaeschke led the Wildcats with a career-high 24 points and Reed joined her in double figures with 11.
The Spartans, receiving votes in this week's rankings, own a 10-8 overall record and 2-4 mark in conference. MSU has dropped three out of its last four games, defeating only Iowa during that time. The other league victory was a 60-53 home win over Ohio State.
Scouting the Spartans
Michigan State, under the tutelage of first-year head coach Suzy Merchant, enters Thursday's game with a 10-8 overall record and 2-4 mark in conference action. The Spartans recently dropped a 64-55 decision to Michigan at Crisler Arena, which marked their third loss in the last four games. Aside from upsetting Ohio State in the conference opener, MSU's only other Big Ten win was a 73-65 come-from-behind road victory at Iowa on Jan. 10. The Spartans showcase one of the league's youngest squads and start three freshmen. Sophomore Allyssa DeHaan leads MSU, averaging 15.2 ppg and pulling down 7.9 rpg. She leads the conference in blocks with 80 so far this season.
The Series Against Michigan State
Michigan State holds a 28-22 advantage in the all-time series against Northwestern. The last time the Wildcats defeated MSU was in 2003.
Family Matters
Cousins Amy and Ellen Jaeschke have made an immediate impact at Northwestern. In 10 out of NU's 17 games, one Jaeschke has led the team in either scoring or rebounding. Amy recently notched a career-high 24 points against No. 19 Ohio State on Sunday, which marked the fourth time in nine games she has been the leading scorer. She has been the Wildcats' leading rebounder three times. Ellen, a junior, has topped the scoring column three times in 17 games and been the rebounding leader on five occasions.
Against The Lady Lions
Though the outcome wasn't what the 'Cats were looking for, several good things happened last Thursday against Penn State. Northwestern only turned the ball over 12 times, the lowest number so far this season. Additionally, the Wildcats shot a season-best 90 percent (10-of-11) from the free throw line
In Conference Play
Several Wildcats have stepped up their performances since the start of the conference season. Freshman Meshia Reed leads the team with 14.4 ppg over the five-game span, which ranks eighth in the league. Reed is also second in three-point FG made (2.00) and seventh in three-point percentage (.357). Fellow classmate Amy Jaeschke has grabbed 8.2 rpg in league action, which ties her with Illinois' Jenna Smith for fifth. Junior Ellen Jaeschke is eighth in league play in field goal percentage (.489 percent) while senior Nadia Bibbs is in the top five in assists (3.60) and steals (2.40) in league action.
Regarding Amy
Freshman Amy Jaeschke has led the Wildcats in rebounding since she returned to the lineup on Dec. 17. The 6-foot-5 center is averaging a team-best 7.3 rpg and has recorded 12 blocks in those seven games. She is also second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.7 ppg over that span. Most recently, Jaeschke poured in a career-best 24 points against No. 19 Ohio State on Sunday. Additionally, she notched the first double-double of her young career against Illinois on Dec. 27, recording 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Wilmette, Ill., native contributed a team- high 21 points in the Wildcats' 65-63 victory against Marquette in her return to the court.
