Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Look To Continue Winning Ways In Columbus Thursday Night
2/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 24, 2010
EVANSTON, Ill. --Northwestern enters the final week of the regular season on a two-game win streak, playing arguably its best basketball of the season. The Wildcats will need every bit of the momentum when they take on No. 10/12 Ohio State Thursday evening in Columbus. Tip goes up at 5:30 p.m. CT and the game will be carried live on the Big Ten Network.
Fans without television access who wish to stay up to date on the action in Thursday's game can do so by following the username @NU_sportsLIVE on Twitter. The game will be broadcast live on WNUR 89.3FM and streamed live at Ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
Following Thursday's event, the 'Cats return home to battle Illinois in their regular season finale Sunday at 2 p.m. Northwestern will honor seniors Kristin Cartwright and Kaitlin McInerney. With the conference tournament set to get underway next Thursday, March 4, the Wildcats find themselves in seventh place in the standings. If the season were to end today, NU would face No. 10 Indiana. The Big Ten bracket will officially be set Sunday evening (Feb. 28) following the results of Sunday's games.
Opponent profile
Ohio State Buckeyes
• 2009-10 Record: 26-4, 14-3
• Series History: 36-15, Ohio State
• Last Meeting: December 31, 2009, 86-60, Ohio State
Last Time Against The Buckeyes
Dec. 31, 2009--Northwestern fought hard, but No. 6 Ohio State proved to be too much, defeating the `Cats 86-60 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Freshman Dannielle Diamant paced NU with a career-best 20 points and Amy Jaeschke turned in her eighth-consecutive double-figure performance, recording 13 points. Freshman Kendall Hackney added 10 points and five rebounds for the Wildcats.
Noting Ohio State
• No. 10/12 Ohio State enters Thursday's contest with a 14-3 conference mark, coming off a 71-68 overtime loss to Michigan State last Sunday at home. The Buckeyes' other two league losses have come at the hands of Indiana (67-62) and Purdue (63-61).
• The Buckeyes, who already have claimed the conference crown, lead the Big Ten in nearly ever statistical category and are ranked in the top 10 in the nation in assists per game (10th, 17.0), scoring (9th, 78.5 ppg), assist-to-turnover ratio (9th, 1.13), three-point field goal percentage (2nd, 40.2).
• Two-time All-American Jantel Lavender leads OSU and the conference in scoring (20.7 ppg) and is tops on the team in rebounding. She is second in the Big Ten with 10.4 caroms per game. Sophomore guard Samantha Prahalis joins Lavender in double-figures with 16.6 ppg and is averaging 7.9 apg, which is second in the country. She also has a team-high 52 steals on the season. Lavender and Prahalis' balanced offensive attack is complimented by the three-point marksmanship of junior Brittany Johnson who leads the Big Ten and is fifth nationally in three-point FG percentage, connecting on 48.8 percent of her looks.
• Ohio State is outscoring its opponents by nearly 17 points per game, and is besting its fellow conference foes by 10.4 ppg.
• The Buckeyes are 18-1 when playing in Value City Arena.
Let's Take A Closer Look
The Wildcats are coming off of two solid victories over Indiana (78-73, OT) and Iowa (72-66) which split the season series with both squads. Amy Jaeschke (22.0 ppg), Beth Marshall (20.5 ppg) and Kendall Hackney (11.5 ppg) all averaged double-figures over the two triumphs, and as a team, the Wildcats shot 51 percent from beyond the arc--well above their 34 percent season average. Northwestern also out-rebounded the two teams by an average of 5.5 caroms.
A Helping Hand
As a team, Northwestern has focused on taking its time setting up the offense, reversing the ball and working the shot clock. As a result, the Wildcats are second in the league and 13th in the nation in assists per game (16.33), with 73 percent of its offensive production coming as a result of a help. Northwestern has handed out 441 assists which has resulted in 600 makes.
For complete game notes, please click on the PDF above.
