Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Michigan State
Wildcats Fall To Spartans, 64-52
1/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 8, 2009
Box Score
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State defeated Northwestern, 64-52, Thursday evening at the Breslin Center. Junior Kristin Cartwright (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) led Northwestern with nine points, while Erin Dickerson (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young) and Ellen Jaeschke (Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove) contributed eight and seven points, respectively.
The Spartans shot 80 percent (4-of-5) from the field through the first 4:30, thanks to three baskets by Alyssa DeHaan, to pull out to a 9-2 lead. Both teams went on a scoring drought for the next 3:24 before a three-point conversion by freshman Maggie Mocchi (Wheeling, Ill./Buffalo Grove) gave the game a much-needed offensive awakening.
The Wildcat defense held Michigan State scoreless while running off eight unanswered points to pull the game even at 11 with 9:09 left. The Spartans responded with a 5-0 run of their own before a jumper by Ellen Jaeschke cut the difference to a possession with 8:19 on the clock.
Michigan State built a 26-15 lead over the next five minutes before Jenny Eckhart (Libertyville, Ill./Carmel) pulled a three from the corner to cut the lead back to single-digits. Two free throws from Allison Mocchi (Wheeling, Ill./Buffalo Grove) on back-to-back possessions pulled Northwestern to within six with two minutes left.
MSU held a 27-20 lead at the break. Amy and Ellen Jaeschke combined for five fouls heading into the locker room, something that would come back to haunt NU in the second half.
The Spartans built an 11-point lead at the 16:57 mark by driving to the basket and feeding the ball down low, drawing fouls on both Jaeschke's and forcing them both to pick up their fourth fouls. A layup by Cartwright at the 15:51 mark pulled the difference to within eight, but Michigan State went on an 8-0 run to take a 16-point lead.
Northwestern could not make up the difference down the stretch.
The Wildcats return to the hardwood on Sunday, Jan. 11 when they host Purdue in a 2 p.m. contest at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
