Northwestern University Athletics
'Cats Host Hawkeyes Thursday Evening
1/29/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 29, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. --After traveling to Wisconsin on Sunday, the Wildcats return to the friendly confines of Welsh-Ryan Arena to face Iowa at 8:05 p.m. CT. The showdown will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network and over the airwaves on WNUR (89.3 FM).
Scouting the Hawkeyes
Iowa rolls into Evanston on a four-game winning streak and sports a 13-7 overall record and 6-3 mark in conference. The Hawkeyes most recently pulled out a 66-61 decision at Carver-Hawkeye Arena against Michigan on Sunday. The victory marks the third time in the last four games the Hawks have won by five points or less. Iowa defeated Wisconsin, the last foe NU faced, in overtime, 78-74 on Jan. 13. Iowa is led by junior Kristi Smith, who is averaging 13.0 ppg. Fellow classmate Wendy Ausdemore joins Smith in double-figures with 10.6 ppg and is also the Hawkeyes' threat from downtown, hitting 43 percent of her shots from long range. Senior Krista VandeVenter leads Iowa on the boards with 5.6 rpg.
The Series Against Iowa
Iowa holds a commanding 38-12 lead in the all-time series against Northwestern. The last time the Wildcats emerged victorious following a bout with the Hawkeyes was in 2000.
Family Matters
Cousins Amy and Ellen Jaeschke have made an immediate impact at Northwestern. In 12 out of NU's 20 games, one Jaeschke has led the team in either scoring or rebounding. Amy notched a career-high 26 points against Michigan State on Jan. 17, marking the fourth time in 11 games she has been the leading scorer. Amy led Northwestern in rebounding against Wisconsin on Sunday with 10 boards. She has now led NU in rebounding on five occasions. Ellen, a junior, has topped the scoring column three times in 20 games and been the rebounding leader on five occasions. She is also shooting a team-best 43 percent from the field.
May I Help You?
The Wildcats have dished out 63 assists in the past four contests. NU is sixth in the conference in assists in league games, averaging 13.50 dishes per outing. Senior guard Nadia Bibbs is the squad's assist leader in Big Ten games with 28 (3.5 apg).
Young Guns
Freshmen Amy Jaeschke and Meshia Reed have accounted for nearly half of Northwestern's scoring in conference games. Combined, the two have poured in 190 of NU's 392 total points (48 percent). Jaeschke is second on the team in FG percentage, hitting 40 precent of her looks. She has stepped up on the defensive end as well, leading the Wildcats on the glass with 8.3 rpg and 19 blocks in the first eight Big Ten contests.
