Wildcats Upend No. 23 LSU, 44-43

11/22/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Nov. 22, 2011

Box Score

Site: Baton Rouge, La. (Maravich Center)
Score: Northwestern 44, LSU 43
Records: NU (4-0, 0-0 Big Ten), LSU (4-2, 0-0 SEC)
Next NU Event: Sunday, Nov. 27-- vs. DePaul (Welsh-Ryan Arena), 2 p.m.

Baton Rouge, La. -- Northwestern faced a tall task, matching up against No. 23 LSU on its home floor, and ultimately rose to the challenge, defeating the Tigers, 44-43 Tuesday evening at the Pete Maravich Center. Freshman Morgan Jones' two free throws with 11 seconds on the clock proved to be the final points of the contest, as the Wildcats came up with a big stop on the final play of the game to remain undefeated. The Maravich Center has been a safe haven for the Lady Tigers, where they were 155-11 over the last 14 years against unranked teams.

"I thought it was a hard-fought game, early in the year," head coach Joe McKeown said. "We just made more plays down the stretch, and Morgan stepped up big with two free-throws. She was poised and I'm really proud of her effort. She's fearless and that's how we need her to play. Overall, I'm happy with the way we fought back."

Northwestern indeed fought back, continually trying to get over the hump on every possession in the final two minutes. LSU pulled ahead by three, but a clutch two from the corner by Kendall Hackney made it a one-point NU deficit with just under two minutes on the clock. The Lady Tigers hit two free throws to once again go up by three, but a running jumper in the lane as the shot clock expired by Allison Mocchi pulled it to 43-42. Two heartbreaking missed lay-ins by the 'Cats set the stage for Morgan Jones's two free throws. The freshman took it in stride, nailing both and putting NU up one with 11.3 seconds left. Northwestern held LSU to a forced three-point air ball in its final possession.

When asked about the two free-throws, Jones said, "When I got fouled, I took a deep breath and stepped up to the line. It's a mental thing, and LSU had great fans, so it was a matter of focusing."

Northwestern led 4-3 in the opening minutes before two forced turnovers, a three-pointer and put-back off an offensive rebound by Brittany Orban pushed the Wildcats ahead, 13-5, eight minutes into the affair. The 'Cats forced seven LSU turnovers and held the Tigers to just a 20 percent shooting clip through the first 10 minutes of the game while seizing the upper hand.

A three-point play by Bianca Lutley stopped a six-minute LSU drought, and cut Northwestern's lead to five with 8:30 remaining in the half. Another Tiger bucket two minutes later made it a one-possession game, 13-10. Hackney and Orban tag-teamed for a 5-0 spurt to extend the Wildcat lead to eight, 18-10, but LSU used two NU miscues to quickly narrow the lead to a bucket at the under four minute timeout.

The Tigers came alive in the final three minutes, causing three NU turnovers and drawing three fouls while ending the half on a 3-1 run to deadlock the game at 19 heading into the locker room. Orban paced the Wildcats with eight points and six rebounds, while Morgan Jones added six rebounds.

LSU strung together a 13-5 lead in the first seven minutes to build a seven-point cushion and, more importantly began to get the crowd of 2,835 back into the contest. Northwestern was held scoreless for a six-minute span, allowing the Lady Tigers to build a nine-point lead with 11:29 remaining in the contest.

A three-point play by Morgan Jones cut the lead to six, in favor of LSU, and there it would stay for a good three minutes until a Dannielle Diamant free throw and a three-point play by Orban pulled the game to within a bucket with just over five minutes remaining in the affair.

Orban paced NU with 13 points and seven rebounds, while Jones added 11 points and nine boards.

The Wildcats return to action on Sunday, Nov. 27, when they host No. 18/21 DePaul in a 2 p.m. contest at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

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