Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Michigan
'Cats Dispose of Michigan, 63-59
12/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 28, 2009
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Three Wildcats tallied double-figures, including Amy Jaeschke who turned in her third double-double effort of the season, as Northwestern (11-2, 2-0) emerged victorious, 63-59, Monday evening at Michigan. Jaeschke (New Trier, Ill./Wilmette) scored 14 points and recorded 10 boards, while Beth Marshall (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) added 12 scores and Kristin Cartwright (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) chipped in 10.
The victory is the Wildcats' sixth-consecutive, which marks the most successful six-game span since the 1995-96 season. It is also NU's best start since that same year.
Northwestern earned its first points on three triples--one from Kendall Hackney (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) and two from Marshall which pulled the score even at nine. Michigan put together back-to-back buckets to pull ahead 13-9 at the 13-minute mark. A lay-in by Dannielle Diamant (Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman) pulled the 'Cats to within a bucket, but a triple from Veronica Hicks gave the home team a 16-11 advantage. Diamant answered with a 3-pointer of her own on the ensuing possession.
The back-and-forth action continued until Northwestern held Michigan scoreless for six minutes while rattling off eight unanswered points to build its largest lead of the game, a 24-19 advantage with 3:29 left in the half. The two teams exchanged buckets to end the half with Northwestern holding a 26-21 lead.
Marshall and Jaeschke paced Northwestern with six points at intermission, while Brittany Orban contributed five boards.
The pace of the second half was dramatically accelerated as both teams looked to convert in transition early. Northwestern outscored Michigan 7-2 in the first four minutes to take a 33-25 lead.
Diamant nailed a triple from the corner at the 9:33 mark which capped off a seven-point Northwestern run and gave the 'Cats a 47-35 cushion. Michigan responded with a three-point play the old fashioned way to pull within nine with 8:48 remaining.
The Wildcats held a double-digit lead throughout the next six minutes until Michigan strung together a six-point run to pull the difference to six, 57-51, with 2:12 on the clock.
Northwestern remained poised and sunk 4-of-6 free-bees down the stretch to secure the victory.
Marshall went 3-of-4 from beyond the arc and added a team-high four assists.
It was Jaeschke's seventh-straight double-digit scoring effort and her 11th of the season.
Northwestern is next in action on Thursday, Dec. 31, when it welcomes No. 6 Ohio State to Welsh-Ryan for a New Year's Eve matinee. Tip is slated for 3 p.m.
