Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
North Dakota
Wildcats Hold Off North Dakota, 67-65
12/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 22, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern used a 63 percent first half shooting clip and 21 points from Amy Jaeschke (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) to defeat North Dakota, 67-65, Monday afternoon at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Senior Erin Dickerson (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young) tied a personal best with 14 points on 4-of-6 from three-point range while fellow classmate Ellen Jaeschke (Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove) chipped in 10 points.
Northwestern found itself down 7-5 five minutes into the game, but three layups from Amy Jaeschke and back-to-back treys by Dickerson and Jenny Eckhart (Libertyville, Ill./Carmel) spearheaded a 10-4 NU run and put the 'Cats ahead 15-11 with 12:40 left.
NU built a seven-point lead before North Dakota cut the difference to a bucket at the 8-minute mark. But once again, back-to-back 3-pointers from Maggie Mocchi (Wheaton, Ill./Buffalo Grove) and Brittany Orban (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) pushed NU's lead back up to eight. A layup by Orban with 5:20 on the clock gave the Wildcats its largest lead of the half, 33-23.
NU outscored the Fighting Sioux 13-9 over the remaining five minutes, highlighted by three treys from Dickerson. The senior finished the half a perfect 4-of-4 from beyond the arc and led all scorers with 14 points. Amy Jaeschke was 6-of-9 from the field and netted 12 first-half points. She also added a game-high six boards.
The Wildcats shot 63 percent from the field en route to a 46-32 advantage at intermission. NU's 46 points is the most it has scored in a half this season.
North Dakota opened the second half on an 8-4 run to pull within eight, 50-42, with 15:35 remaining. The Wildcats responded with back-to-back buckets in the next minute to pull ahead by a dozen, but a three by UND's Danye Guinn reeled the 'Cats lead back to nine. Both teams exchanged baskets over the next six possessions until a jumper by Whitney Ledger cut NU's lead to five mid-way through the frame.
Northwestern built the lead back up to nine with 3:20 left but a 7-0 run by the Fighting Sioux pulled the game to within a bucket, 65-63, at the 2:00 mark.
The two teams combined for three turnovers over the next two minutes before UND's Mallory Youngblut converted on two free throws to tie the game at 65 with 24 seconds left.
In NU's final possession, Eckhart passed the ball on the wing to Dickerson who fed Ellen Jaeschke down low and was fouled looking for a layup with 4.5 seconds left. Jaeschke sunk both free throws to give NU a 67-65 edge and ultimately, the victory.
Mocchi finished with a personal-best five assists and contributed seven points and three rebounds. Fellow classmate Orban also notched seven points and pulled down four boards.
The Wildcats are next in action on Sunday, Dec. 28 when they resume conference action in a 1 p.m. CT contest at Michigan. Northwestern then hosts Ohio State at 1 p.m. CT on New Year's Eve.
