Northwestern University Athletics
NU, Ramblers Tussle In Saturday Matinee
12/9/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 9, 2011
Northwestern (6-1) at Loyola (Chicago) (4-4)
Saturday, Dec. 10
Gentile Arena
Chicago, Ill. • 2 p.m. CT
TV: Lakeshore TV
Streaming Video:ESPN3.com
Gametracker: Loyolaramblers.com
In-game Twitter updates: @NU_SportsLIVE
EVANSTON, ILL. -- Following a week hiatus to tend to their studies, the Wildcats return to the hardwood at 2 p.m. Saturday for a battle against Chicagoland foe Loyola. While the contest is a home game for the Ramblers, it will be a relatively unfamiliar setting as Loyola just played its first game at the newly-renovated Gentile Arena Thursday. The game will be carried on espn3.com as well as on Lakeshore TV.
Last Time Out...
Junior Dannielle Diamant hit 10-of-10 from the free throw line in the final 1:15 to seal a 74-70 victory over Missouri Saturday afternoon as part of the Big 12/Big Ten Challenge. Diamant's performance was complimented by the Wildcats' season-high 11 three pointers, including three from Morgan Jones. Kendall Hackney led the Wildcats with a season-high 20 points, while Diamant added 18 and Jones chipped in 11.
Diamant's perfection from the line matched the Big Ten's single-season free-throw percentage for this year. The junior is shooting a team-best 85 percent from the charity stripe, which also comes in eighth in the Conference.
Opponent profile
Loyola (Chicago) Ramblers
Location: Chicago, Ill.
Series History: NU leads, 19-0
Last meeting: 2009; NU, 85-58
An 18-2 run to close the first half helped Northwestern stretch out its lead as it downed local foe Loyola Chicago 85-58 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Brittany Orban led the Wildcats with a season-high 22 points, while freshman Kendall Hackney added a career-best 20 points off the bench.
Two things you need to know about Loyola: The Ramblers enter today's contest with a 4-4 mark, most recently dropping a 48-45 contest against LaSalle Thursday. Loyola boasts three players in double-figures on the season, led by Patrice King with 17.8 ppg. King is shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc and 45 percent from the field.
Talk About Point Production
Northwestern is averaging 75 points over the last two contests, bringing their average up to 67.9 (from 65.0 through the first five games) per outing. The Wildcats dumped a season-high 76 points in their 17-point victory over NC State last week and turned in a season-best 44 points in the second half at Missouri.
High Five
The first round of NCAA statistics came out this week (12.04.11), and freshman Karly Roser ranks third in the nation in assists per game (7.1). Roser is tied for the Big Ten lead in that category.
Jones Picks Up Freshman of the Week Accolades
Morgan Jones picked up her second Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolade in as many weeks, the Conference announced on Dec. 5. Jones and Karly Roser have had somewhat of a monopoly on the honor, winning it in three of the first four weeks of the season.
Jones averaged 19.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, two assists and two steals in the Wildcats' wins over NC State and Missouri. Both contests were a part of the Big Ten's Challenge games (Big Ten/ACC and Big 12/Big Ten).
The freshman recorded the first double-double of her career against the Wolfpack, posting career highs in points (27) and in rebounds (11) while shooting 60 percent from the field. At Missouri, Jones added 11 points and four rebounds in 36 minutes of play, shooting 50 percent from deep.
Oh, And More About Morgan
Jones is the only freshman to appear in the Big Ten's top-15 leading scorers, coming in 12th with 13.9 ppg. She also ranks ninth in three-pointers per game (1.9 apg), 10th in steals (2.9 rpg) and is tied for fifth in defensive rebounds per game (5.1 spg).
Wildcats Pick Up Votes In AP Poll
After defeating No. 23 LSU, knocking off NC State and defeating a previously unbeaten Missouri squad at home, Northwestern is once again receiving votes in this week's Associated Press poll. It is the second-consecutive week the Wildcats have appeared in either poll.
Complete game notes can be found by clicking on the PDF above.
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