Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Michigan State
Spartans Hold Off `Cats, 74-62
1/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 17, 2008
Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Freshman Amy Jaeschke (pictured) scored a career-high 26 points, but it was not enough as Michigan State outlasted the 'Cats 74-62 Thursday evening at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Jaeschke, who scored 24 points last Sunday against Ohio State, led all scorers and pulled down a game-high 10 boards. Cousin Ellen Jaeschke recorded a solid 12 points and seven rebounds.
"Amy is where she needs to be and Ellen is playing very consistently," said head coach Beth Combs. "I'm proud of what we did tonight."
Three early baskets from Ellen Jaeschke led to a 10-7 edge for the `Cats seven minutes into the contest. Michigan State answered with a 7-0 run and would keep the lead until a Meisha Reed (Country Club Hills, Ill./Stockbridge (Ga.)) long ball put the Wildcats in front, 18-16, with 9:43 remaining. The teams traded the lead for the rest of the half. Two Spartan free throws in the final minute gave MSU a 31-29 advantage heading into the half.
Reed led NU with seven points at the break while Amy Jaeschke had a Wildcat-high four rebounds.
Michigan State raced from the gates, using a 13-4 run in the first 3:38. But Northwestern never gave in and battled back to within eight on an Erin Dickerson (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young) make from behind the arc.
Both Jaeschkes carried the `Cats in the second half. Ellen recorded six points and four rebounds in the second period, while Amy scored 22 points in the half alone. A contested 4-footer from Ellen brought the score to 57-65 with 5:43 left in the game.
"With four minutes left we still thought we could win the game," said Combs, "We did a great job at putting together 34 to 36 minutes of play."
The Spartans were too much, however, scoring nine points in the final three minutes to earn the victory.
Jenny Eckhart (Libertyville, Ill./Carmel/Syracuse) dished a career-high 10 assist in the game.
The Wildcats fell to 4-14 overall, 0-6 in the Big Ten. The Spartans move to 11-8, 3-4 on the season.
Northwestern is back in action Sunday, January 20, when it heads to West Lafayette to take on the Boilermakers of Purdue. Tip is set for 1 p.m. CT.
