Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Come Up Short In Fayetteville, 60-44
11/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 23, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.-- Junior Kristin Cartwright (Lake Forest, Ill./lake Forest) dumped in a career-high 16 points and Amy Jaeschke (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) snatched a game-high 13 rebounds but Arkansas found its stride in the second half to secure a 60-44 win Sunday evening at Bud Walton Arena.
Both teams took their time feeling each other out in the early going, mustering only a bucket a piece through the first four minutes, while turning the ball over a combined five times.
A trey by Maggie Mocchi (Wheeling, Ill./Buffalo Grove) with 12:30 remaining in the half pulled the score even at eight and a pull-up jumper in the lane by Cartwright gave the Wildcats a two-point advantage.
The Razorbacks pulled ahead by one before Cartwright converted on an and-one to give NU a 13-11 lead. Jenny Eckhart (Libertyville, Ill./Carmel) connected in a three to extend the Wildcat lead to five mid-way through the stanza.
Arkansas went on a 7-0 run over the next four-and-a-half minutes, capped off by two free throws by Ciera Ricketts and a trey from Julie Inman which gave Arkansas a 19-16 advantage with 4:30 remaining.
Arkansas' zone forced Northwestern to play a perimeter game, and Cartwight made the most of what the defense was giving her, sinking a three from the corner to tie the game at 19 with just under a minute remaining. A Razorback bucket :30 later gave the home team a 21-19 lead at half.
Cartwright led all scorers with eight first-half points while Jaeschke pulled down a Wildcat-high six boards. Both teams shot under 27 percent on the half.
The offensive woes continued for both teams, as only nine points were scored through the first five minutes.
Arkansas slowly built an eight-point lead over the next four minutes before a layup by Jaeschke pulled Northwestern to within six, 36-30, with 10:58 remaining.
A three from Cartwright with just under nine minutes remaining pulled NU to within four, but the Razorbacks responded with a basket of their own on the ensuing possession, pushing the difference to seven. An Arkansas trey followed by three Wildcat turnovers translated into two-consecutive baskets for the home team and a 13-point lead.
Northwestern hung around, thanks to back-to-back threes by Orban and Cartwright, cutting the lead to 10 with four minutes left. But Arkansas converted from the free-throw line to pull away for their fourth-consecutive victory of the season.
The Wildcats are next in action after the Thanksgiving holiday, when they host the Doubletree White Invitational Nov. 29-30. Northwestern battles Western Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 29 at approximately 2 p.m.
