Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Host 25th Annual DoubleTree White Invitational
11/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
DoubleTree White Invitational Game Notes 
Nov. 28, 2008
EVANSTON, ILL.-- Northwestern welcomes Holy Cross, Western Illinois and Missouri to the 25th annual DoubleTree White Invitational (formerly the Mildred and Roger L. White Invitational) at Welsh-Ryan Arena this weekend. The round-robin event begins Saturday at noon when Missouri faces Holy Cross. Following that, the Wildcats take on Western Illinois at approx. 2 p.m. The Westerwinds battle Holy Cross at 1 p.m. on Sunday before NU meets the Tigers in the final game at approx. 3 p.m.
Entering the Tournament...
• Northwestern enters this weekend's Tournament in need of two solid performances as it seeks to get back on the winning track. The Wildcats dropped a 60-44 decision at Arkansas on Sunday, Nov. 22 following a 68-60 victory over Houston Baptist at home on Nov. 20.
• Northwestern, Missouri and Western Illinois all enter the weekend with a 1-3 record while Holy Cross has yet to pick up its first win of the season in four attempts.
Scouting the Westerwinds
Western Illinois enters the weekend with a 1-3 record. After opening the season with a 70-53 victory over Robert Morris, the Westerwinds have dropped their last three contests to Northern Illinois, Missouri and most recently Northern Iowa. WIU is led by 5-9 senior guard Amanda Walker, who is averaging 9.0 ppg and 5.3 rpg. Fellow senior Nicole Myers has stepped up her game offensively, contributing a solid 8.0 ppg and 7.0 rpg.
The Series against Western Illinois
The two teams have met five times with the Wildcats prevailing each time. The last meeting was during the 1981 season, when Northwestern pulled out a 93-82 victory in Macomb. NU is undefeated all-time against Summit League foes.
Scouting the Tigers
Missouri is coming off a loss by another Big Ten school, Indiana, who handed the tigers a 63-54 beating on Tuesday. Missouri enters the Tournament with a 1-3 mark, also having lost to South Dakota State at home and to Big Ten member Illinois. Mizzou's only victory came against Western Illinois, who they will play in the first game of the Tournament. Missouri is led by Jessra Johnson, who flaunts 14.5 ppg and 8.3 rpg. Alyssa Hollins (12.8) and Shakara Jones (10.3) are the only other Tigers who have scored in double-digits. The next highest scorer is averaging just 5.3 ppg.
The Series against Missouri
Missouri holds a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools. Most recently, the Tigers defeated Northwestern 78-59 in Columbia on December 10, 2006. This is not the first time the Wildcats have seen Big XII style of play, having hosted Kansas State earlier in the season.
Evaluating the Opposition
During the 2008-09 season, Northwestern faces seven opponents who appeared in last year's NCAA Tournament. They include Kansas State (5 seed), Ohio State (6), Marquette (7), Iowa (9), Minnesota (9), DePaul (10) and Missouri (13). Additionally, eight Northwestern opponents during the 2008-09 season are ranked or receiving votes in either the Associated Press or ESPN/USA Today Poll. While Missouri dropped out of the ranks of receiving votes this week, seven other Big XII schools are appear in both of the weekly listings. For the complete rankings, please see page 7 of this release.
Taking the Lead
Sophomore Amy Jaeschke picked up right where she left off last season: topping several Wildcat statistical categories.The 6-5 center is averaging a double-double with (16.0 ppg) and rebounding (12.8 rpg). She also leads the way in field goal percentage (55.8 percent) and minutes played (37.5 mpg)--an average that is tops in the Big Ten as well. The center registered a career-high 15 rebounds, poured in a game-high 19 points and swatted five rejections against Houston Baptist.
Youth Movement
Through the first four games of the season, three of Northwestern's top four scorers are underclassmen. Sophomores Amy Jaeschke and Meshia Reed are averaging 16.0 and 11.8 ppg, respectively, while freshman Brittany Orban is averaging 8.5 ppg. There are eight underclassmen and six veterans on the Wildcats' roster. Junior Kristin Cartwright is the lone upperclassman in the top four.
Stepping In and Moving Up
Freshman Brittany Orban has made quite an impression with the coaching staff in her first quarter as a Wildcat. The North Canton, Ohio, native earned a slot in the starting lineup the past two games. She responded with resepectable six points and six boards at Arkansas and 13 points on 5-of-7 from the field and 3-of-4 from the line against Houston Baptist. She is aeraging a 8.5 ppg and 4.0 boards. Orban has proven that she has come through in a the clutch, shooting a team-best 72 percent from the line.
The Silent Assassin
After sitting out last season with an ACL tear, Kristin Cartwright has come back in a big way. She led Northwestern with a career-best 16 points in Sunday's effort at Arkansas while also dishing out 5 assists and knocking down three treys at crucial junctures of the game. Additionally, she notched an 11 point, five rebound effort in the near-victory against Kansas State in the home opener and followed with a then-career-high in points (14), steals (6) and assists (5) in the win over Houston Baptist on Nov. 20. She is a true disciple of Joe McKeown's famous "blizzard" defense, leading the team in steals with nine and retrieving 10 offensive rebounds, which ranks second on the team behind Amy Jaeschke (17).
Next Up...
The Wildcats get to sleep in their own beds for the next few days, but will need plenty of shut-eye. Following the two-day DoubleTree White Invitational, NU hosts Big East rival Marquette at 8 p.m. Tuesday night. The Big Ten Network will carry the game live. The 'Cats then travel to Clemson to battle the Tigers in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Tip is set for 6 p.m. CT.
For complete game notes, please click on the PDF above.
