Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Michigan
'Cats Claw Out 64-60 Triumph Over Michigan
2/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 4, 2010
Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern expected a battle Thursday night when Michigan rolled into town, and it received nothing less. After knocking off the Wolverines earlier in the season at Crisler Arena, the Wildcats completed the season sweep with a 64-60 win Thursday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Three 'Cats turned in double-figure performances, led by Kendall Hackney's 18-point effort. Amy Jaeschke registered 15 points and nine rebounds while Beth Marshall contributed 11 points and a game-high six assists.
Three different Wildcats connected from beyond the arc to produce 11 of Northwestern's first 14 points, including two triples from Marshall (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern).
The Wolverines held an 18-14 lead midway through the opening stanza, but four points by Jaeschke highlighted a 9-0 Wildcat run, giving Northwestern a 23-18 advantage with 6:40 on the clock. Michigan could only muster four points over the next three and a half minutes while the 'Cats continued to roll. Five points by Hackney fueled a nine-point Wildcat scoring spree, which gave Northwestern its largest lead of the first half, a 10-point cushion, with 3:11 left in the frame.
Michigan managed to score seven of the final nine points of the stanza to narrow the Wildcats' lead to five, 34-29, at the half. Hackney (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) led all scorers with 10 points while Jaeschke contributed six points and four boards. The half was a true shootout from deep, as Northwestern drained six three-pointers, a 54 percent effort, while the Wolverines were successful 5-of-11 times.
Both teams came out of the locker room with a sense of urgency, recognizing the importance of the match-up in the conference standings. The two teams exchanged baskets until yet another triple, this time from Meshia Reed (Country Club Hills, Ill./Stockbridge (Ga.)), gave NU an eight-point lead, 48-40, at the 13:30 mark.
Michigan responded with a 7-0 run to take a slim 50-49 advantage; its first lead since the 8:56 mark of the first half. Back and forth banter continued the rest of the way with neither team allowing the other to hold more than a one-possession cushion. In total, there were nine lead changes and five ties over the course of the affair.
A turnaround jumper by Jaeschke with 1:12 remaining gave NU a 61-60 upper hand. On the following Michigan possession, Hackney came out of nowhere to block a three-point offering by Carmen Reynolds, and Jaeschke grabbed the deflection to once again give the Wildcats' possession.
On the other end, a drive by Marshall with the shot clock winding down resulted in two made free-throws, which increased the Wildcats' margin to three, 63-60, with :17 on the remaining. Another three-point attempt, this time by Courtney Boylan, once again fell victim to a Wildcat claw as Marshall deflected the shot and Hackney was fouled grabbing the deflection. The freshman hit one free-bee with two ticks left to seal NU's 14th win of the season.
Northwestern connected on 9-of-19 from three-point land and shot 44 percent from the field on the game. The Wildcats continued their unselfish play, something that has been a trademark all season long, highlighted by the fact that 18 of their 23 makes were assisted.
With the triumph, the Wildcats have doubled their win total from all of last season. Additionally, it was the first time since the 1998-99 season Northwestern has swept a Big Ten foe.
After a bye this weekend, Northwestern resumes play on Thursday, Feb. 11, when it travels to Illinois for a 7 p.m. contest.
