Northwestern University Athletics
'Cats Snare Hoosiers, 78-73, In Overtime
2/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 18, 2010
EVANSTON, Ill. -- After trailing Indiana by as many as nine points in the second half and by four with 23 seconds to play, Northwestern received a game-tying triple by Beth Marshall (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) with four seconds left to force overtime, where NU pulled out a 78-73 victory Thursday in Welsh-Ryan Arena. In addition to her late-game heroics, Marshall finished with a career-best 26 points that included 6-of-7 shooting from three-point range.
"She's our best shooter," Head Coach Joe McKeown said of Marshall, "And I thought she was much more aggressive looking for her shot tonight. I trust her with the ball at the end of the game."
Amy Jaeschke (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) scored the first four points of overtime, giving the 'Cats a lead they would not surrender the rest of the way. Jaeschke finished with 17 points and five blocks--all in the second half--on the defensive end.
Northwestern improves its record to 15-11 on the season, guaranteeing itself a winning record in the regular season. Indiana is now 13-13 on the year while both teams are now tied with 6-9 marks in the Big Ten.
The 'Cats jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the opening 90 seconds, but Indiana stormed back with four quick points, indicating a tight first half battle to come. Thanks to three treys--two from Marshall and one from Kendall Hackney (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame)--the Wildcats tallied nine of their first 13 points from long distance.
The offensive thermometer was through the roof for both teams in the first 10 minutes of the game, as they combined to shoot 50 percent from the field. Additionally, Northwestern connected on 50 percent of its offerings from deep.
Indiana slowly chipped away at Northwestern's early seven-point lead and used a 6-0 run on back-to-back triples to take its first advantage of the game, a 28-26 edge, with 4:10 remaining in the first half. The Hoosiers scored five straight points to end the half and take a 33-29 upper hand into the locker room.
Marshall led NU with 11 points, nine of which were from deep, while Dannielle Diamant (Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman) contributed a solid two blocks and three rebounds in just 10 minutes of play. Jaeschke added six points a the break
Indiana opened the second stanza on a 6-1 run to pull ahead 39-30 with 16:42 left in the game. The Wildcats hit a rough patch offensively, mustering just three points, all from Jaeschke, through the first seven minutes.
But, in true leadership fashion, Marshall stepped up to hit her fourth triple of the game and pull Northwestern to within six at the 11:57 mark. An old-fashioned three-point conversion by Diamant capped off NU's 6-0 run and made it a one-possession affair, 41-38, with 10:22 remaining.
The two teams matched each other offensively until two free throws by Brittany Orban (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) set the difference at the narrowest of margins, 48-47, with 6:16 left. Marshall struck from deep yet again on the following possession, deadlocking the contest at 50 with just over five minutes left. Thirty seconds later, a layup by Jaeschke gave Northwestern its first lead of the game since the 4:13 mark of the opening frame.
Indiana used a 7-0 run to take a 60-54 lead with just over two minutes remaining. A huge triple from the corner by Diamant once again made it a one-possession affair with 1:50 on the clock. Back-to-back jumpers on consecutive possessions by fellow freshman Hackney once again set the difference at one, 62-61, with :36 left.
Two free throws by IU's Jamie Braun and another two from Jori Davis sandwiched a triple from the corner by Kristin Cartwright (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest), making the score 68-65 with 12.8 seconds left. Once again, Marshall stepped up her game, sinking her sixth triple of the evening, to notch the score and send the event to overtime.
Northwestern converted on 80 percent (8-of-10) of their opportunities from the free-throw line in the extra session, outscoring the Hoosiers 10-5 to seal its 15th win of the season, the most since the 1996-97 campaign.
The Wildcats return to action on Sunday when they battle Iowa in a 1 p.m. contest. The game also will be Northwestern's annual Pink Zone Day and all fans are encouraged to wear pink to support breast cancer awareness.
