Wildcats Ground Toledo's Upset Bid, Claim 70-60 Win

12/22/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Dec. 22, 2010

Box Score

Site: Evanston (Welsh-Ryan Arena)
Score: Northwestern 70, Toledo 60
Records: NU (11-2, 0-0 Big Ten), Toledo (7-5, 0-0 MAC)
Next NU Event: December 30--at Indiana (Assembly Hall), 6 p.m. CT

EVANSTON, Ill -- Northwestern withstood several Toledo runs to pull out their 11th win on the season -- a 70-60 decision Wednesday afternoon at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Amy Jaeschke scored a game-high 26 points while Brittany Orban recorded her fourth double-double of the season; a 20-point, 11-rebound effort. Northwestern finishes its nonconference season undefeated at home and 11-2 overall.

Northwestern's blizzard defense wreaked havoc with Toledo's offense early on, forcing the Rockets to come up empty in their first five attempts. Junior Meshia Reed took care of the Wildcats on the other end, scoring six of their first 10 points to push NU out to a 10-0 lead. As a team, NU continued its sharp shooting, hovering around a 50 percent conversion rate throughout the first 10 minutes.

A three pointer by Naama Shafir pulled Toledo to within six, 18-12, at the 10:54 mark, but Kendall Hackney answered with a bucket on the ensuing possession and sparked a 9-2 run over the next seven minutes, giving NU a 27-14 edge.

Northwestern maintained its distance, taking a 31-19 lead into the break. After a hot start, the Wildcats cooled off to shoot 38 percent on the half, while Toledo shot a mere 29 percent from the field and just 15 percent (2-of-13) from deep. Orban led the 'Cats with nine points at intermission.

Reed opened the scoring in the second half with a three-pointer from the corner and Jaeschke chipped in four-straight points to give the 'Cats a 38-21 edge with 16:37 remaining. Toledo cut NU's cushion to 10 -- 46-36 -- after running off 10 unanswered points, but Northwestern pushed the difference back up 15 with 9:06 remaining with a 7-2 spurt.

Toledo cut the lead to single digits two minutes later, but Orban and the Wildcat defense buckled down. The junior went on a seven-point spurt over the next three minutes to push NU's lead back up to 13 with 4:10 remaining. The 'Cats hit 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the final three minutes to preserve the win.

The Wildcats receive a week-long break before opening the conference season at 6 p.m. CT on Dec. 30 at Indiana.

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