Sharpshooting Propels NU To 89-63 Victory Over Creighton

3/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

March 17, 2011

Box Score | Photo Gallery

Updated WNIT Bracket (3/17/11)

Site: Evanston, Ill. (Welsh-Ryan Arena)
Score: Northwestern 89, Creighton 63
Records: NU (19-13 Big Ten), Creighton (18-13 Missouri Valley Conference)
Next NU Event: Sunday, March 20, 2011 -- vs. Alabama (Welsh-Ryan Arena), 2 p.m.

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Backed by 21 points from Kendall Hackney and a 55-percent shooting effort, Northwestern (19-13) cruised to a 89-63 victory over Creighton Thursday night in opening round WNIT action at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Senior Amy Jaeschke registered her 15th double-double of the season with 16 points and 12 rebounds while Meshia Reed added 16 as well.

With the win, the Wildcats move on to face Alabama, who defeated Memphis, 80-69, Thursday evening. The contest is slated for 2 p.m. Sunday, March 20 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tickets can be purchased on the day of the event only. Prices are $8 general admission and $6 for youth. Group tickets are also available at a $5 rate. For further ticket information, please contact Northwestern's ticket office at 888-GO-PURPLE. Northwestern undergraduate students can show their Wildcard at the door to receive a FREE ticket compliments of Northwestern Women's Basketball.

"For an Irishman like me, it was good to win on St. Patrick's Day," head coach Joe McKeown said. "I thought our team tonight did a great job bouncing back. Creighton had a terrific year. They have been really competitive this season. They do a great job when they get hot, and when we were watching them on films they were dangerous and I thought we did a really good job. We made the shots tonight and it was a great team effort."

Hackney had the hot hand from the tip, scoring the first seven of NU's points to drive the Wildcats out to a commanding 10-2 lead in the first two minutes. The sophomore's accuracy proved to be a harbinger of the Wildcats' offensive performance, as NU went on to shoot 52 percent in the opening stanza.

Northwestern extended its lead to double-digits on two occasions over the next five minutes before Creighton defaulted to its strong suit, perimeter play. The Bluejays, unable to convert down low, strung together a trio of triples to go on a 9-3 run to pull to within three, 26-23, with 7:48 left in the half.

Junior Brittany Orban responded with a three of her own on the other end, extending the 'Cats' lead to six, 29-23. Northwestern relocated its offensive groove and closed out the half on a 13-4 run to hold a 42-27 edge at intermission. The Wildcats' 42 points was the most they had scored since Dec. 19, 2010.

Northwestern continued its hot shooting to open the second half and scoot out to a 20-point upper hand and never looked back, recording its 19th victory of the season. That win total is the most since the 1995-96 season.

Postgame Notes
Northwestern's 37 wins in the past two seasons is the most since the 1995-96, 1996-97 seasons when the Wildcats had a combined 40 wins ... Northwestern's 10 three-pointers was the most Creighton has allowed in the past decade ... Every Wildcat who entered the game found the scoring column and registered double-digit minutes.

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