Cats Scare, Fall to Cyclones
Saturday, December 8, 2001
By: Jeff Dees

This game shouldn’t have been close. Iowa State came into the game at 5-0 and ranked sixth in the nation, while the Wildcats were a meager 2-6 on the season. However, games are played for a reason. Northwestern gave the Cyclones quite a scare, but Iowa State held on for a 71-61 victory.

Trailing by 14 points at halftime, the ‘Cats fought back into the game in the second half and closed the gap to four points with under a minute to play. Iowa State, led by the clutch free throws of Lindsey Wilson, would never let the Wildcats get any closer.

WNUR Photos: Photo by Ben Adler NU forward Ashley Messenger drives against Iowa State Saturday. The 'Cats hung tough with the 5th-ranked Cyclones, but fell 71-61. Click here for larger image.

The game had an inauspicious beginning for Northwestern. Just three minutes into the game, Iowa State grabbed a 13-2 lead with its impressive shooting and stifling defense.

Forward Suzanne Morrison credited Iowa State’s defense for the ‘Cats poor start, “We were totally unprepared for their press.”

The Wildcats settled down from the poor start and closed the gap to 13-8 on two baskets by Sarah Kwasinski and a jump shot by Natalie Will. Northwestern never cut to the deficit to less than five in the first half, and Iowa State continued to augment its lead as the half continued.

With only 5.5 seconds remaining in the half and leading 37-20, the Cyclones called timeout to set up a final play. Melissa Culver then stole the inbounds pass for the ‘Cats and found Will, who drained a 3-pointer as time expired. Northwestern trailed 37-23 at the half; yet, the team carried the momentum with them into the locker room.

On Will’s big shot before the break, Kwasinski stated, “If we went in without that shot, we wouldn’t have come out as physical and ready as we did in the second half.”

Even with Will’s big shot, the ‘Cats were dreadful from the field in the first half, shooting only 11 of 35, including one of five from beyond the three-point arc. On the contrary, Iowa State shot 14 of 26, and the Cyclones were an astounding six of eight from three-point land.

In the second half, the ‘Cats found their shooting touch. Northwestern traded baskets with the Cyclones early in the first half, with Kwasinski and Morrison leading the charge by scoring the first 14 points for the ‘Cats.

Trailing 52-37 with 13:13 remaining, the Wildcats stepped up the defensive pressure in order to get back into the game. Northwestern forced ten Iowa State turnovers during the Wildcats’ 17-6 run, which narrowed the gap to 58-54 with only two minutes remaining.

Iowa State center Angie Welle and Kwasinski traded baskets in the next minute, and the score was 62-58 with 36 seconds remaining. However, Wilson, who scored 23 points, went six of six from the free throw line in the final minute as she iced the victory for the Cyclones.

For Northwestern, the freshman led the way once again. Kwasinski recorded another double-double, finishing the game with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Morrison added 14 points and nine rebounds, while Culver dished out nine assists.

Despite the loss, coach June Olkowski praised the team’s effort as another sign of their progress, “Hopefully, we’ll keep growing, we’ll keep getting better, and we’ll keep getting more confident.”

Jeff can be reached at j-dees@northwestern.edu.