Jan. 20, 2008

Box Score

WEST LAFAYETTE, IND. -- Despite 32 turnovers, Northwestern still had a shot at victory with three minutes remaining, but Purdue pulled away for a 52-38 victory Sunday afternoon at Mackey Arena. Freshman Amy Jaeschke (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) turned in a solid game for the Wildcats with eight points, seven rebounds and a career-high five blocks.

The sub-zero weather in West Lafayette could have explained the slow start for both teams. Three minutes elapsed before either squad found the scoring column and during that time, Purdue and NU combined for six turnovers and five missed shots.

Purdue led by as much as 10 in the opening stanza, but the Wildcats continued to be persistent and it paid off. NU strung together nine unanswered points to pull within one, 24-23, at the half. Meshia Reed (Country Club Hills, Ill./Stockbridge (Ga.)) and Jaeschke led NU with six points each at the break. The Wildcats enjoyed one of their better shooting halves of the season, knocking down 52.9 percent of their looks.

Northwestern came out of the locker room with the same "attack" mentality and immediately produced a 5-0 run to take a four-point lead, 28-24. But Purdue came back to even the score at 30 with 13:26 left. The Boilermakers went on an 11-4 spurt to push the lead to 41-34 with eight minutes remaining.

Back-to-back buckets by senior Melissa Miller (Bloomington, Minn./The Breck School) put the 'Cats within three with 4:12 to go. But once again, the Boilers had an answer and this time, it was final.

Purdue stifled NU's offense while stringing together nine unanswered points over the final four minutes to push the ultimate difference to a deceiving 14-point win.

The Wildcats out-shot Purdue and held the advantage in assists and block columns.

Reed was NU's leading scorer with nine points, while cousins Amy and Ellen Jaeschke each contributed eight. Senior Nadia Bibbs (Chicago, Ill./Hillcrest) pulled down a team-best eight rebounds while also dishing out a game-high seven assists.

The Wildcats are next in action on Sunday, Jan. 27 when they travel to Madison to face the Badgers in a 4:30 p.m. tip. The game will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.

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