Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Michigan
Wolverines Nip 'Cats, 47-40
2/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 14, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. --Northwestern shot 40 percent from the field but it wasn't enough as Michigan held on for a 47-40 victory Thursday evening at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Freshman Amy Jaeschke (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) led the 'Cats with 15 points while fellow classmate Meshia Reed (Country Club Hills, Ill./Stockbridge, (Ga.)) chipped in 12. Nadia Bibbs (Chicago, Ill./Hillcrest) dished out a game-high 10 assists.
"We did some good things today and we need to continue to build on those," head coach Beth Combs said. "But we also continued to do some things that come back and bite us every day."
Jaeschke knocked down her first four buckets, also the Wildcats' first four makes of the game, putting Northwestern out in front 8-2 in the early going. The Wolverines responded with a 5-0 run of their own to pull within one.
Northwestern spurted again, rattling off seven points to once again take the upper hand, 15-7, with 8:32 remaining in the half.
The two teams traded baskets for the rest of the frame before settling on a 21-18 score in favor of the Wildcats. Jaeschke led the way for Northwestern, dumping in 12 points thanks to a perfect 6-for-6 effort from the field. Nadia Bibbs (Chicago, Ill./Hillcrest) also turned in a solid half, distributing five assists and grabbing six rebounds. The Wildcats were on target from the field, hitting 47 percent of their looks while holding Michigan to only 28 percent.
Michigan opened the second frame with a basket, pulling the difference to one.
Scoring was sparse over the next seven minutes but a three-pointer by Reed pushed the 'Cats' lead to four with 13:31 remaining.
But the Wolverines went on a 10-0 run over the next six minutes and never let the lead get away, though Northwestern gave them a run for their money.
It was a four-point game with under a minute remaining, but the 'Cats were forced to foul and Michigan hit five of six free throws to seal the victory.
Jaeschke's 15 points came on 7-of-10 from the field and she also added five rebounds. Jenny Eckhart (Libertyville, Ill./Carmel/Syracuse) had a solid all-around game as well, recording seven points, five rebounds and five assist.
Northwestern limited Michigan to just 27 percent shooting from the field and allowed only four three-pointers, a statistic Michigan leads in the Big Ten.
The Wildcats are next in action on Monday, Feb. 18 when they host Wisconsin at 8 p.m. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network and is also Think Pink Day, an event that promotes breast cancer awareness. Fans who plan to attend are encouraged to wear pink.
