Northwestern University Athletics
Newly-Ranked Wildcats Welcome Badgers to Start 2015
12/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
| rv/No. 25 Northwestern (11-1, 1-0 B1G) vs. Wisconsin (5-6, 1-0 B1G) |
|
| Date | Thursday, Jan. 1 | 1:00 p.m. CST |
| Location | Welsh-Ryan Arena | Evanston, Ill. |
| Watch Live | BTN Plus on BTN2GO |
| Live Stats | GameTracker |
| Social Media | @nuwbball  | Northwestern Women's Basketball  | @NUCATS_WBB  |
| Game Notes (PDF) |
Northwestern | Wisconsin |
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern, ranked No. 25 in this week's USA Today top 25 coaches poll, hosts the Wisconsin Badgers to ring in the new year at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Thursday, Jan. 1 at 1 p.m.
WILDCATS HISTORICALLY WALTZ INTO USA TODAY POLL
For the first time in program history, Northwestern is ranked in this week's USA Today top 25 coaches poll, checking in at No. 25. Dating back to 2009-10, the Wildcats have received votes 15 times in past seasons, including four this year. In the Associated Press poll, NU is the top team among others receiving votes this week even though it has beaten both No. 24 (Michigan State) and No. 25 (DePaul) on the road this year. Northwestern was last ranked in the AP poll on Jan. 29, 1996 at No. 23. The highest AP ranking in program history came on Dec. 10, 1990 (6), and the 'Cats have appeared in the final poll twice. Northwestern was ranked No. 13 to conclude the 1989-90 campaign and No. 22 at the end of the 1990-91 season.
BRIGHT BEGINNING TO BIG TEN PLAY
By defeating No. 20/22 Michigan State, 61-57, on Sunday, Northwestern won its Big Ten opener for only the second time in the Joe McKeown era (since 2008-09). The Wildcats also defeated Michigan, 63-59, on Dec. 28, 2009 during McKeown's second season at the helm. Sunday's game also marked the seventh straight season that the 'Cats opened on the road and the third straight season against a ranked opponent (No. 18/15 NEB in 2013-14; No. 9/9 Penn State in 2012-13). NU is seeking its first 2-0 start in conference play since 1995-96 when it knocked off Illinois and Minnesota en route to winning five in a row to open the Big Ten slate.
MIND YOUR MILESTONES
Having already secured the 600th win of his coaching career this season, head coach Joe McKeown is aiming for another milestone win this week. The Philadelphia, native owns 99 victories in six-plus seasons as the bench boss at Northwestern ... Junior sharpshooter Maggie Lyon is NU's active leading scorer with 908 points. The last 1,000-plus scorer for the Wildcats was Kendall Hackney, who netted 1,547 from 2009-13 ... Alex Cohen recently played in her 100th career game against Eastern Illinois at the ASU Classic. Hackney is the program's all-time leader in that category with 126.
DEFENSIVE DANDIES
Statistically speaking, the Wildcats have been arguably one of the top defensive teams in the Big Ten this season. Northwestern leads the 14-team conference in scoring defense (55.3) and ranks second in the B1G and 10th in the country in field-goal percentage defense (.332). NU also leads the Big Ten and ranks ninth in the NCAA in steals (12.9 spg). Individually, Ashley Deary ranks second in the NCAA with 3.83 steals per game. The 'Cats also ranks among the nation's leaders in blocks, checking in at seventh with 6.4 per game.
BALANCE IS BEST
While sophomore Nia Coffey leads the Wildcats and ranks seventh in the Big Ten in scoring, the team has used a balanced scoring punch this season. All five starters are netting at least 8.1 points per game this season and Northwestern's third-leading scorer, Lauren Douglas, is averaging 11.0 points per game in only 21.3 minutes off the bench. The 'Cats are shooting 46.3 percent and scoring 76.0 points per game this season.
SCOUTING WISCONSIN
Overall Record: 5-6, 1-0 Big Ten
All-Time Series Record: NU leads, 33-31
Notable: The Badgers, under fourth-year head coach Bobbie Kelsey, have won four of their last five games after dropping five-of-six to start the season. Junior guard Nicole Bauman is the team's top scorer with 13.3 ppg, while fifth-year senior center Cassie Rochel is the top rebounder for Wisconsin with 6.1 rpg. UW is unfortunately without the aid of Michala Johnson, who was averaging 12.8 ppg and 6.8 rpg through six games, after the Bellwood, Ill., native suffered a season-ending knee injury last month.
FROZEN DAY
Northwestern returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena on New Year's Day to host Wisconsin at 1 p.m. In their return home, the 'Cats will host Frozen Day with visits from Queen Elsa and Princess Ana, the opportunity to win tickets to Disney's Frozen on Ice, great prizes and more. Discounted tickets will be available for $3 to any fan in a Frozen costume.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will hit the road this weekend to battle the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus, Ohio. Northwestern had dropped the last four games in the series after winning both matchups during the 2011 campaign. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. CT and the game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.
More notes and information are available for both teams in the Game Notes PDF packages linked at the top of the page.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter and Instagram, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook and sign up to receive promotional text alerts for the latest news, schedule updates and video and to interact with NU. For more information on following specific Northwestern teams online, visit our Social Media page!
