Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Texas Southern
'Cats Down Texas Southern, 68-51
12/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 16, 2008
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern used a 48 percent first-half shooting percentage and four double-double performances to dispose of Texas Southern, 68-51, in front of a season-high crowd of 3,926 Tuesday afternoon at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Sophomore Amy Jaeschke (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) led NU with 18 points and nine blocks while fellow classmate Meshia Reed (Country Club Hills, Ill./Stockbridge (Ga.)) and freshmen Brittany Orban (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) and Maggie Mocchi (Wheeling, Ill./Buffalo Grove) all joined Jaeschke in double-figures. Jaeschke's nine blocks ties a Big Ten single-game season high mark.
Texas Southern hung with the Wildcats through the first four minutes, but Northwestern's full-court press forced three turnovers, which fueled a 10-2 run and gave NU a 19-8 advantage with just under 12 minutes left in the half. The 'Cats' defense played a key role in the victory down the stretch, forcing 22 TSU turnovers and resulting in 35 points.
Northwestern, led by four points from Mocchi, outscored the Lady Tigers 7-3 over the next five minutes to push the advantage to 28-11 with 7:47 remaining. Mocchi finished with a career-best 11 points.
Northwestern built its lead to 22 points, but Texas Southern went on a 9-2 run to end the half and set the score at 39-24. The Wildcats' 39 points ties a season-high for points in a half.
Jaeschke led NU with 11 points at intermission while Reed chipped in nine. Both were 5-of-6 from the free throw line. The Wildcats connected on an outstanding 48 percent from the field and went 13-of-15 (86.7 percent) from the charity stripe.
The Wildcats' hot shooting hand cooled off significantly in the second half, but their defense and a nine-point, seven-rebound performance from Orban kept TSU at bay. The freshman's effort on the boards was a team-high while her 12 points mached a career-best.
Northwestern never let its lead dip below 15 points en route to victory. The Wildcats went to the free-throw line 31 times and converted on 83.9 percent of its opportunities.
The 'Cats hit the hardwood next against Indiana in the Big Ten opener Saturday afternoon at Assembly Hall. Tip is set for 4 p.m. CT and will be streamed live at www.bigtennetwork.org. Northwestern hosts North Dakota--its final non-conference bout of the season--on Dec. 22 at 1 p.m. in before breaking for the holidays.
