Box Score

NU vs. Drexel Box Score in PDF Format
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Postgame Quotes in PDF Format
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Dec. 5, 2003

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern held off a late Drexel rally to defeat the Dragons 56-52 in game one of the Mildred and Roger L. White Invitational Friday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Samantha McComb led the Wildcats (3-2) with 14 points, while Ifeoma Okonkwo and Michelle Zylstra added 12 apiece.

Drexel's Catherine Scanlon scored a game-high 23 points, but it was not enough to overcome a Wildcat team who capitalized on a solid performance from the free throw line. The 'Cats finished the game 14-of-17 from the charity stripe, all coming in the second half.

After jumping out to a nine-point first-half lead behind three three-pointers from Zylstra, Northwestern carried a 28-24 lead into halftime.

"She shot the ball extremely well in that first half," Northwestern head coach June Olkowski said of Zylstra.

However, the Wildcats came out ice-cold in the second half.

A combination of good Drexel defense and sloppy offensive execution led to a 16-minute field goal drought for the Wildcats. In that stretch, however, NU picked up 12 (on 12-of-12 shooting) points from the line to keep the Dragons at bay.

"We got to the line and made foul shots," said Olkowski. "We defended pretty well down the stretch, too-- and that is what you have to do to win."

Drexel (1-3) claimed its first lead of the contest with 3:45 remaining in the game when Candace Wilkins drained a three-pointer to give the Dragons a 47-44 lead.

However, converted free throws on back-to-back possessions by Sarah Kwasinski and McComb put Northwestern back on top for good. Drexel's Katrina Martin had an opportunity to tie the contest with 23 seconds remaining, but was only able to convert one-of-two free throws and the 'Cats clung to a 53-52 edge.

Okonkwo scored the game's final three points as Northwestern advanced to tomorrow's 2 p.m. championship game against Eastern Michigan, which defeated Florida International in the tourney's second game.