Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Clemson
Clemson Squeaks Out A 78-75 Victory In Overtime
12/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 4, 2008
CLEMSON, S.C. -- Sophomore Amy Jaeschke (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) poured in a career-high 34 points on 11-of-24 from the field, but Clemson pulled out a 78-75 overtime victory in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at Littlejohn Coliseum Thursday night. Ellen Jaeschke (Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove) recorded a season-high 11 points while freshman Brittany Orban (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) added 11 of her own.
Northwestern pounded the ball down low to Amy Jaeschke early, exploiting the height advantage and allowing her to record the first eight Wildcat points of the game. The two teams stayed with each other the entire half, neither one allowing the other to build more than a four-point lead--a stat that held true throughout the entire contest.
Amy Jaeschke dominated in the paint, leading all scorers with 14 points and six boards while Orban netted seven points and Ellen Jaeschke notched five in the first half. The Wildcats shot 42 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free-thrown line in the opening frame.
Clemson tallied a quick seven points to open the second half to take a 34-31 lead early. But junior Kristin Cartwright (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) ran off five points on the two ensuing possessions to notch the game at 36 just five minutes into the period. The back-and-forth flow continued throughout the half, right down to the final minute.
A pair of free throws from Amy Jaeschke gave the Wildcats a three-point edge. Lele Hardy answered with a layup but a pair of free throws by Erin Dickerson (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young) with 54 seconds on the clock gave NU a 65-62 lead. The Tigers responded with a layup off a missed free throw to pull the game to within one, 65-64, with 38.8 seconds left.
Northwestern turned the ball over in the corner, giving Clemson the ball with 36.4 seconds remaining. The 'Cats pulled out a defensive stop before Ellen Jaeschke was fouled. The senior sunk both free throws to give NU a 67-64 led with 16.7 seconds left.
On the next possession, Clemson put up two offerings from three-point range, both of which missed its mark. Jenny Eckhart pulled down the rebound and was fouled in the backcourt with five seconds remaining in regulation. The junior missed both freebees, keeping hope alive for the home team.
Clemson's Hardy popped a trey from the top of the key at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
The same intense, tight play continued throughout the extra session. A trey from Sthefany Thomas gave Clemson a three-point advantage with 36 seconds remaining and a free throw from Christy Brown put the Tigers up by four, 77-73. Meshia Reed (Country Club Hills, Ill./Stockbridge, (Ga.)) recorded two free throws to pull NU to within a bucket but Northwestern was forced to foul and Clemson's April Parker made one-of-two free throws to put the Tigers up 78-75 with 11 seconds left. The Wildcats broke Clemson's full-court pressure but Dickerson's trey from the elbow extended as time expired missed its mark.
The game featured 17 ties and 14 lead changes along the way.
Amy Jaeschke finished the game 12-of-13 from the line, tying a Wildcat record for free throws attempted in a game. Her 34 points ties the Big Ten record for points scored this season.
Northwestern went 26-of-34 from the line, tying a Big Ten season-high in both free-throws attempted and free-throws made.
The Wildcats (2-6) get a break from game action for the next 10 days due to finals before traveling to Chicago to face DePaul on Dec. 14. Tip is set for 2 p.m.
