Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Conclude Non-Conference Slate With North Dakota
12/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 21, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. --Northwestern returns to the friendly confines of Welsh-Ryan Arena when it hosts the Fighting Sioux from North Dakota Monday at 1 p.m. After the holiday break, the 'Cats travel to Ann Arbor to face Michigan on Sunday, Dec. 28. Tip is set for 1 p.m. CT and will be streamed live at www.bigtennetwork.com.
Entering the Game...
• Northwestern enters its final non-conference contest of the season on the heels of a 81-57 loss in the Big Ten opener at Indiana. Freshman Maggie Mocchi poured in a career-best 18 points on 7-of-13 from the field, including a .500 clip from beyond the arc (4-of-8). Sophomore center Amy Jaeschke notched her sixth double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 boards. She also added a game-high four assists and five blocks.
• North Dakota left directly after its 69-60 victory over Seattle Pacific Saturday night to come to Evanston. The Fighting Sioux bring a 5-6 mark into showdown, which will be the first time these two teams have met on the hardwood. UND is led by seniors Kierah Kimbrough and Danye Guinn, who are averaging 20.1 and 12.3 ppg, respectively. North Dakota has won its last two games and four out-of-its last six.
Scouting the Fighting Sioux
North Dakota comes to Evanston for the first time in the history of its women's basketball program and brings with it a 5-6 mark on the season. The Fighting Sioux have won their last two games and have emerged victorious in four out of their last six outings, highlighted by a 111-27 trouncing of Mayville State on Dec. 17. The only common opponent between Northwestern and North Dakota is Arkansas, a team that defeated both squads. UND has struggled on the road, posting just a 1-6 record so far this season. Seniors Kierah Kimbrough and Danye Guinn lead the way for the Fighting Sioux offensively, notching 20.1 and 12.3 ppg, respectively. They have combined for 356 of the team's 835 total points (42 percent) and have spearheaded the team's 75.9 scoring clip. Kimbrough recorded a double-double in UND's 69-60 victory over Seattle Pacific on Saturday, dumping in 21 points and pulling down 13 rebounds.
The Series against North Dakota
This is the first meeting between Northwestern and North Dakota.
Almost ...There
Though the record doesn't reflect the progress Northwestern has made this season, consider the following:
• Northwestern has held the halftime lead in eight of its 11 games this season.
• All but two of NU's eight losses have been by single-digits and four have been by six points or less.
• Comparing this year's numbers with last year's stats at the same time (through 11 games) shows that the 'Cats have improved in points per game, scoring margin, field goal percentage, free-throw percentage and turnovers.
The Wildcats On The Big Stage
As of Dec. 14, Northwestern ranks 35th nationally in field goal percentage. Individually, sophomore Amy Jaeschke is 12th in the nation in rebounds per game and 26th in blocked shots. She also appears in the top 100 in field goal percentage (44th) and points per game (91st).
Mocchi Coming Alive
After recording a then-career-high 11 points against Texas Southern Dec. 16, freshman Maggie Mocchi exploded for a personal-best 18 points against Indiana on Saturday. She knocked down a Wildcat season-high four treys and went 7-of-13 from the field while also contributing a career-and team-high four steals. The Wheeling, Ill., native has seen action in every game this season and has started one.
For complete game notes, please click on the PDF above.
