Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Penn State
Penn State Downs Wildcats, 65-50, Thursday In State College
2/26/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 26, 2009
Box Score
STATE COLLEGE, PA. -- Sophomore Amy Jaeschke (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) poured in 19 points and added seven rebounds but Penn State prevailed on its Senior Night, 65-50, Thursday at the Bryce-Jordan Center. Junior Kristin Cartwright (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) joined Jaeschke in double figures with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 effort from the free-throw line.
Northwestern hit its first three shots to jump out to a 7-2 lead, but the Lady Lions came back to even the score with just under four minutes expired in the opening stanza. The 'Cats used stops on the defensive end to hold Penn State scoreless for nearly five minutes while going on a 6-0 run and take a 13-7 advantage at the 12:04 mark.
But recent history repeated itself and the Wildcats went scoreless for five minutes while the Lady Lions ran off eight points to take their first lead of the game with 8:20 on the clock. In similar fashion, NU put the hold on Penn State's offensive over the next seven minutes and once again went on a 9-0 run to take a 22-15 advantage with just over two minutes remaining. Penn State ended the half on a four-point run to pull the score at intermission to 22-19 in favor of the Wildcats.
Jaeschke and Cartwright led Northwestern with eight points each at the break. The Wildcats continued their hot shooting, connecting on 47 percent (9-of-19) of their looks while holding the Lady Lions to a dismal 27 percent. NU also dominated on the glass, limiting PSU to just 15 rebounds the whole half.
The second frame started out tight and remained that way throughout the next 13:43, as no team held more than a three-point lead, and there were four lead changes and three ties. A free-throw by PSU's Tyra Grant gave the Lady Lions a four-point cushion, 46-42, with 6:17 on the clock. Penn State used that momentum to build the largest lead of the game by either team--an eight-point lead with just over five minutes remaining.
Northwestern would not go away, however, pulling to within six multiple times over the next three minutes, but could not overcome that deficit and was forced to put the Lady Lions at the charity stripe. Penn State converted on its free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.
The Wildcats are next in action at 2 p.m. Sunday when they take on Iowa in the final regular-season home game. It is also Senior Day, and Northwestern will be honoring Chiana Hung, Erin Dickerson, Julie Bielawski and Ellen Jaeschke in their final game at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Big Ten Tournament will take place the following week, March 5-8, in Indianapolis. Opening-round action commences at 11 a.m. CT.
