Orban, Jaeschke Key 71-62 Victory Over LSU

11/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Nov. 14, 2010

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EVANSTON, Ill. -- It was a game of runs, scrambles for loose balls and rebounds and at the end of 40 minutes, Northwestern defended its home court and remained unbeaten on the season, defeating perennial national power LSU 71-62 Sunday at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Junior Brittany Orban spearheaded NU's rebounding effort, hauling down a career-best 17 rebounds while senior Amy Jaeschke put the team on her back offensively, pouring in a game-high 28 points.

The question that hung in the air with four minutes remaining was whether Northwestern, who had maintained the lead since the 13:27 mark of the first half, could withstand an LSU offense who had been knocking at the door the entire second half. This time, the Tigers were within three, 57-54, when LSU called a timeout. The Wildcats more than held on, running off nine unanswered points to take a commanding 12-point lead with 2:15 left, and successfully stifled any comeback hopes LSU might have en route to notching their second victory of the season.

"I am proud of our effort," head coach Joe McKeown said after the game. "It was a fun game. LSU made a tremendous run and we answered it. I think that shows a lot of heart on our part. A lot of teams would have folded under pressure in the last three or four minutes, but I thought we really kept our composure."

That composure was evident from the opening possession when Northwestern jumped on the board first thanks to a 15-footer from Orban. LSU chimed in less than 30 seconds later, sparking a 6-0 run and setting the score at 6-2 a little over three minutes into the event. The Wildcats pulled the tally even and then caught fire.

The 'Cats took their cue from senior captain Beth Marshall, who sparked a 9-0 run with three free-throws after being knocked to the ground attempting a trey with 12:53 on the clock. Northwestern held the Tigers without a field goal for just over four minutes while taking the upper hand. The Wildcat defense was highly effective, holding LSU to just 20 percent shooting through the first 12 minutes.

A three-pointer by Bianca Lutley, made the score 15-12 at the 9:03 mark but once again NU had a response, and this time it came in the form of a three-pointer from the elbow by junior Allison Mocchi, which once again extended NU's lead to six.

The two teams fell into offensive rhythm, exchanging scores over the next three minutes until Jaeschke came alive. With just over five minutes left in the half, the 6-5 center tallied seven of the game's final 13 points, giving the 'Cats a 29-22 lead at the break.

Until that point, Jaeschke had been defensive-minded, swatting three blocks and pulling down four rebounds. She took a game-high nine points into the locker room, while Marshall recorded seven. In addition to a game-high eight rebounds, Orban was 3-of-5 from the field for six points.

As a team, Northwestern's efforts on the defensive end yielded just a 25 percent LSU shooting clip. The Wildcats held a slight edge on the glass, 23-21, something that was a focus entering the game. NU would eventually win the battle of the boards, pulling down 43 rebounds to LSU's 38.

A banked-in three-pointer from the top of the key by Jaeschke gave NU's its largest lead of the game--a 10-point margin. But it was short-lived as the Tigers responded with a triple on their next possession quickly resetting the difference. LSU used that to ignite a 7-0 run and close the gap to just three, 32-29, until a slick entry pass from Tailor Jones to Orban halted the run and once again extended NU's lead to five at the 16:41 mark.

LSU made it a one-possession game and following a bucket by Mocchi, pulled within one on a four-point play by Latear Eason. Northwestern refused to relinquish the lead, rattling off seven-straight unanswered points, capped off by a familiar three-point swish from Marshall that set the score at 43-35 with 12:18 left in the game.

The Tigers hit their next two shots to come within three and came back to tie the game at 49--the first time the score was evened since the 13:27 mark of the first half--with just over seven minutes remaining. Northwestern never flinched, attacking on the ensuing possession. A jumper from Jaeschke at the top of the key missed its mark, but Orban grabbed one of her 17 rebounds and was fouled as she converted on the lay-in. The junior calmly sunk the free-throw and once again put the difference at three. NU withstood LSU's final run and hit four free-throws in the last 34 seconds secured the win.

Orban's 17-rebound, 18-point effort was her first double-double of the season. Marshall played her role perfectly, recording a game-high five assists while recording a season-high 14 points, half of which came from the charity stripe where she was a perfect 7-of-7.

The Wildcats return to action Thursday for their first road contest when they battle Western Kentucky in a 7 p.m. showdown.

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